Garry C. Myers III, CEO of Highlights for Children Inc., died Jan. 26 in Columbus, OH. He was 59.
Myers was a grandson of Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers, who founded Highlights for Children magazine in 1946. His parents, Garry C. Myers Jr. and Mary M. Myers, served as president and vice president, respectively, of the company until their deaths in an air disaster in 1960. Myers began his career there as a teenager, affixing mailing labels to magazines.
After four years in the Army, Myers received a bachelor's degree in international affairs at George Washington University in 1972 and then earned an MBA in marketing from the University of Michigan.
In 1971, during his time in the service, Myers was elected to the board of directors of Highlights, and he joined the company full time in 1975 as a management information analyst. By 1978, Myers became vice president of mail sales and promotion, and in 1980 was named president. He assumed the role of CEO in 1981.
Myers was a longtime Direct Marketing Association member and served on the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation's board of trustees. He was active on the issues of privacy and data use. He chaired the DMA Ethics Committee for several years.
“Garry Myers was a wonderfully supportive and longstanding DMEF trustee and friend. His intelligent counsel, solid collegiality and friendly smile will be missed sorely,” said David Chancey, DMEF executive director.
Myers is survived by sons Gregory and Garry and their mother, Melanie Myers, all of Columbus, as well as two sisters, two brothers, an uncle and many cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1 at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd. in Grandview, OH. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Jan. 31 at Schoedinger Funeral Home, 1740 Zollinger Road in Upper Arlington, OH.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 at Calkins Union Church, Calkins, PA. Burial will be in Calkins Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Garry C. Myers III Scholarship Fund, Highlights Foundation, 814 Court St., Honesdale, PA 18431.
