Jerry Merryman
American electrical engineer and inventor (1932–2019)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
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Jerry Merryman and James R. Biard at the April 2016 meeting of the TI Vets. | |
| Born | June 17, 1932 Hearne, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 2019 (aged 86) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University (did not graduate) |
| Occupation | Electrical engineer |
| Known for | Co-inventor of the hand-held calculator |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 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
- 1997: Stibitz-Wilson Award from the American Computer & Robotics Museum[4]