Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Health Education, Physical Education and Leisure Studies Carl Garnett Meeks (October 22, 1920-), retired college professor and administrator, was born in Tarrytown, Georgia, the son of Annie L. and Newton Augustus Meeks, who was a carpenter and cabinet maker. Carl has two brothers and two sisters, who are: Newton Meeks of Los Angeles, California; James Ray Meeks of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ann Meyers of Mt. Clemmens, Michigan; and Ruth Renfrew of Omaha, Nebraska. Meeks attended Mooseheart High School in Mooseheart, Illinois and graduated in 1938. On June 8, 1945, Meeks married Natalie Elizabeth Clark, the daughter of Adele Henritze and David Fulcher Clark. The couple have two sons: Gary Clark Meeks (July 7, 1949 -) and David Newton Meeks (July 28, 1956 - ). Gary Meeks graduated from Appalachian State University in 1971 with his wife, Sally Averitte Meeks of Raleigh, North Carolina. They teach in the Yadkin County schools and have two children: Elizabeth Christine ( born May 17, 1975 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) and Derrick Andrew ( born December 23, 1978 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina). David Meeks graduated from Appalachian State University in 1984 with a B.S. degree in industrial education and technology with a minor in electronics. Carl Meeks enrolled at East Tennessee State University in 1939, where he was a member of the football team and met his wife-to-be, to work on his B.S. degree in science and health and physical education. Before he could complete his degree, though, he joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1941. Meeks was trained in aerial navigation and taught aerial navigation at Ellington Field, Texas, Mather Field, California, and Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nevada from 1945-46. Meeks traveled overseas as a lead navigator on B-17 flying fortress bombers with the 708-heavy bombardment squadron, 447 bomb group, stationed at Rattlesden air base in England. He flew 25 combat missions over Germany. His decorations include: The Distinguished Flying Cross; the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; and the European Theatre of Operations Award. He is a member of the Caterpillar Club, composed of persons who were forced to parachute from disabled aircraft. Meeks was honorably discharged in 1947 at the rank of captain. After leaving the army Meeks returned to East Tennessee State University where he completed the requirements for his B.S. degree in 1948. Meeks enrolled at the University of Mississippi where he earned his M. A. degree in health and physical education in 1949. In 1949 Meeks accepted a position as athletic director and coach at South Jackson Street School in Tullahoma, Tennessee. While there he coached football, basketball and baseball, and taught science, health, and physical education until 1950. He then moved to Fall Branch, Tennessee in 1950 where he served as athletic director and coached basketball and baseball at Fall Branch High School until 1952. Meeks also served as head of the health and physical education program at the high school. Meanwhile, during summers he was attending Columbia University, New York, New York, to work on the Ed.D. degree. In 1952 Meeks went to New York to work full-time on his Ed.D. He also worked part-time teaching and supervising physical education at St. Hilda's Elementary School in New York. Meeks received his Ed.D. in 1953, after having served a short time as an F.B.I, agent for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and Quantico, Virginia. From 1953-55 Meeks served as assistant professor of health and physical education at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. There he taught both undergraduate and graduate courses and served as acting chairman of the department of health and physical education during the summer months of 1954 and 1955. He also served as the director of several workshops and clinics sponsored by the Virginia Association for Health and Physical Education. In 1955 Meeks accepted a position as assistant professor of health and physical education and as director of the men's intramural athletic program at Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, Louisiana. While at Northeast Louisiana he conducted workshops in physical education for elementary school teachers. Additionally, he served as an official of high school and college football games. He was faculty sponsor for the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and for the Omicron Delta Kappa college national leadership association. Meeks came to Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) in 1958 as associate professor in the department of health, physical education and recreation, and was promoted to professor in 1964. While at Appalachian Meeks served on the University Committee on Personnel, the Faculty Welfare Committee and the Departmental Curriculum Committee. He also helped to organize a guidance program for health, physical education and recreation majors while serving as the department graduate program adviser from 1969-81, and as coordinator of graduate studies from 1978-81. Along with several others in the department, he was involved in promoting and developing the human performance laboratory and the exercise and sports science program at the university. Professionally, Meeks held membership in: the National Education Association; the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; the North Carolina Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; and the American Association of University Professors. Meeks retired from his position at Appalachian State University in December of 1984 and was granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees in 1985. In his retirement Meeks hopes to do 139
more bass and trout fishing, to play more golf and hopefully lower his handicap, and to spend more time with his grandchildren. He and his wife plan to travel, spending several months of the winter season in Jekyll Island, Georgia and/or Florida. Notwithstanding travel, however, Boone is home and most of the time will be spent "on the mountain!" Sources: Appalachian State University files, personal interviews, and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe
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