Jerry Merryman

Jerry Dale Merryman (June 17, 1932 – February 27, 2019) was an American electrical engineer and inventor. He was a member of the team at Texas Instruments that developed the first pocket calculator in 1965.

Jerry Merryman
Jerry Merryman and James R. Biard at the April 2016 meeting of the TI Vets.
BornJune 17, 1932
Hearne, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 2019(2019-02-27) (aged 86)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma materTexas A&M University (did not graduate)
OccupationElectrical engineer
Known forCo-inventor of the hand-held calculator
Spouses
  • Vernette Posey
  • Sally Simon
  • Phyllis Lee
Children1 daughter

Early life

Merryman was born on June 17, 1932, near Hearne, Texas.[1] He attended Texas A&M University but failed to graduate.[1][2]

Career

Merryman began his career at Texas Instruments in 1963.[1][2] With Jack Kilby and James Van Tassel, he invented the hand-held calculator in 1965.[1] Two years later, "The first patent for the calculator was filed."[3] Merryman retired as an engineer for Texas Instruments in 1994 but continued to work for them as a consultant.[3]

Personal life and death

Merryman was married three times. He first married Vernette Posey, followed by Sally Simon, and finally Phyllis Lee. He had a daughter, Melissa.[1]

Merryman died of heart and kidney failure on February 27, 2019, in Dallas, Texas, at age 86.[1][2][3]

Awards

References
  1. Metz, Cade (March 7, 2019). "Jerry Merryman, Co-Inventor of the Pocket Calculator, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  2. "Jerry Merryman, who helped invent the handheld calculator, dies at 86". The Los Angeles Times. March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  3. Criss, Doug; Baldacci, Marlena (March 6, 2019). "Jerry Merryman, the man who helped invent the hand-held calculator, has died". CNN. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  4. "Stibitz-Wilson Awards 1997".
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