Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Biology. Teunis Vergeer (May 2, 1901 - ), retired college and university professor, was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the son of Sarah Hendricka and John Matthew Vergeer. John Matthew Vergeer was a wholesale dealer and importer of American flour. Of Teunis' seven brothers and sisters, four are still living: Shirley, retired army major in Del Rey Oaks, California; Joseph, retired insurance agent of Portland, Oregon; Serard, retired city manager now in Bremerton, Oregon; and Duane, senior attorney and retired army colonel of Portland, Oregon. Vergeer graduated from a private high school (the Institute Van Bleek) in Rotterdam in June of 1916 at age 15. That same month, he was appointed as billing clerk in a large lumber company. In addition to making out bills, he took classes in French and German dictation and typed up letters in these languages because the regular typist could not do so. He married Frouwina Hermina Elizabeth (Jansma) Vergeer--outstanding musician, vocalist, pianist, and organist. They had three children: John Teunis (July 5,1928 -); Frouwina Hermina Elizabeth, Jr. (May 24, 1933 -), now Mrs. D. Bartelli; and Frederick Richard (June 28,1937 -). John is an attorney (M.Law, University of Michigan), and Fred is retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (B.Sc., University of Florida) and has a large farm. Vergeer's second wife is Dorthea Anna Van Andel, M.A. (University of Michigan), who is retired from a career in music, broadcasting and teaching. Vergeer attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1921 to 1926 and received his A.B. degree in biology and chemistry. He went to the University of Michigan as a teaching assistant in 1926, and the next year he became a research assistant working on his own problem. In 1928 the university continued him as a research assistant at regular salary and permitted him to teach a full load at Alma College--he worked three and a half days a week at both schools! In 1929 Vergeer received his M.Sc. degree in zoology. He then accepted a position as professor of biology at Hastings College, but returned the next year to the University of Michigan as a National Research Fellow in Medicine. Then, in 1931, he accepted a position at Hope College, where he was professor of biology and department head. He received his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Michigan in February of 1932. Vergeer stayed at Hope College until 1953. He then became an assistant professor at the School of Medicine at the University of North Dakota, where he worked until 1957. There he became an experimental surgeon, performing such difficult operations as lumbar sympathectomies. It was too cold in North Dakota, so in 1957 he went to Westminister College to be the head of the department of biology. Then, in 1960, he came to Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) as professor of biology. Here, Dr. Vergeer continued to do research as well as to teach. With the assistance of outside grants which were always forthcoming during his tenure at Appalachian, Dr. Vergeer opened up the medical schools to Appalachian students; those working for him as assistants had the research experience required. He published numerous articles and papers throughout his professional career, and a list of them covers many pages. The New York Times gave a thirty-line account of his research, and Newsweek reported on him as well. Research topics investigated by Vergeer include zoology (tapeworms, mosquitos, frogs), biology (irradiation and plant growth) and physiology (vasculature, bloodflow). A highlight in his research endeavors was when he proved that bears are important carriers of tapeworms. Dr. Vergeer infected two bears with eight tapeworm larvae hidden in chocolate cake and subsequently treated them with kamala in honey, revealing 240 feet of the worms. Vergeer's medicine successfully cured a young child in Milwaukee who suffered from tapeworm infestation, after four other attempts to treat the child had all failed. Vergeer also proved that veins under low pressure are more contractile than arteries under the same pressure. He worked three summers for the U.S.D.A. and afterward was called repeatedly to help them in solving insect problems. For two summers he ran a grasshopper control program which covered 10 counties in Michigan. Another summer, working for the Michigan Blueberry Growers' Association, Dr. Vergeer discovered and directed, with 99% success, the control of an insect which had caused over a $1,000,000 damage to that crop previously. While working with the U.S.D.A., Vergeer was given a GS 12 rating. Additional honors which Vergeer received were membership in: the Michigan State Board of Examiners, the Michigan Academy of Sciences (chairman, one year), the American Medical Association (special affiliate member), and Sigma Xi. His biography has been listed in over 10 publications, including five different volumes of the Who's Who series. Vergeer was awarded the status of full professor at the University of North Dakota and at the University of Maryland, where he taught for two summers. Although he began at the University of Maryland as guest lecturer in genetics and human development, he was quickly promoted and given a sizable bonus for his teaching contributions there. Vergeer retired from Appalachian in 1971 after 11 years of service to the university and a distinguished life-long career as a medical and biological researcher. In retirement he has continued to do research; in 1976 he presented a paper at the Medical College of Georgia dealing with his findings on veins. He currently spends his time fishing and travelling, and enjoying winters in Fairhope, Alabama. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Miss Maryon Urquhart
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