Jack Elliott Myers


Jack Elliott Myers, was an American poet and educator. He was Texas Poet Laureate in 2003, and served on the faculty of Southern Methodist University in Dallas for more than 30 years. He was director of creative writing at SMU from 2001 through 2009. Myers co-founded The Writer's Garret, a nonprofit literary center in Dallas, with his wife, Thea Temple. He published numerous books of and about poetry, and served as a mentor for aspiring writers at SMU and as part of the writers' community and mentoring project of The Writer's Garret.

Early life

Jack Myers was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Jewish parents Alvin G. and Ruth L. Myers, and developed an interest in writing and poetry at a young age. In his twenties he worked many odd jobs to support his self-directed study of poetry.

Early career

In 1968 Jack Myers married his first wife, Nancy Leppert, and a year later they had their first son. Myers earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1970. After finishing his degree, he moved his family to Iowa where he was accepted into the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop. He became friends with his professor, Dick Hugo, whom he later honored with the Festschrift, A Trout in the Milk: A Composite Portrait of Richard Hugo, in 1980.
His second son was born in Iowa in 1972.

Later career

After obtaining his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry Writing, Myers moved his family to Dallas in 1975 when he was hired as an Assistant Professor of English at Southern Methodist University.
In 1981 Myers became a "Field Faculty" member of Vermont College, and in June of that year married his second wife, Willa Robins. This union produced two children.
In 1981 he also became the Program Chair of SMU's English Department and served on many committees. During this time he wrote hundreds of poems; edited anthologies; and published The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms, a chapbook, and two collections of poetry. One of these, As Long As You're Happy, won the 1985 National Poetry Series.
In 1993, Myers met his third wife, Thea Temple, at an AWP conference in Norfolk, Virginia. They were married six months later. This union led to a literary partnership and the most productive period of Myers' life, including the founding of the non-profit literary center, The Writer's Garret in Dallas.

Final years

From 1993 until his death, Myers published nine books of and about poetry, taught at six universities, chaired the board of The Writer's Garret, directed the creative writing program at SMU, appeared on radio and television talking about writing and poetry, edited magazines, and founded the Writers' Community and Mentorship Project. He also won awards for his writing and teaching.
Myers was named the Poet Laureate of Texas in 2003, and the city of Mesquite honored him with "Jack Myers Day".

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Appearances