Meier, Otto, 1908-1979.

Otto Meier, Jr., (1908-1979), professor emeritus of electrical engineering, taught at Duke University from 1934 to 1975. Meier's specialties were electrical machinery and control, illumination, explosives, nucleonics, and experimental nuclear physics. Meier was active in the Southeastern Electric Exchange; the American Institute of Electrical Engineers ca. 1933-1963); Delta Epsilon Sigma (ca. 1931-1946); the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (ca. 1963-1971); the campus chapter of Tau Beta Pi (ca. 1948-1975); and the Engineers Club (Durham, N.C.). Meier was a consultant engineer with the Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab and helped to plan the facility.

Born Nov. 7, 1908, in Philadelphia, Pa., Otto Meier, Jr., was educated at the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1929; E.E., 1937; Ph.D, 1957) and at the University of Michigan (M.S., 1938). Meier was a technical observer with the Geophysical Research Corporation in N.Y. (1929-1930), and then worked as a private consultant with C.D. Fawcett, E.E., in Philadelphia (1930-1934).

Meier came to Duke University in 1934 as an instructor (1934-1938) in electrical engineering and taught as an assistant professor (1938-1945), associate professor (1945-1957), and professor (1957-1975). Meier's specialties were electrical machinery and control, illumination, explosives, nucleonics, and experimental nuclear physics.

In addition to teaching, Meier filled many administrative posts at Duke University. He was Chairman of the Schedule and Registration Committee of the College of Engineering (1947-1948), President of the Duke Faculty Club (1948-1949), Acting Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Dept. (1950), Director of Undergraduate Studies in Electrical Engineering (1961-1966; 1968-1970), Director of Graduate Studies in Electrical Engineering (1966-1968), Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in Electrical Engineering (1970-1971), Assistant Dean of Engineering (1971-1974), and University Marshal (1971-1974). Meier was also a representative for Duke University's Admissions Office at various high schools in the region.

As a consultant and researcher, Meier worked with the Engineering Corps of the U.S. Army (1941), the Explosives Division of the U.S. Naval Ordnance Lab (1949), and the Oak Ridge National Lab (1950). Beginning in 1950, Meier was an engineering consultant and researcher with the Nuclear Structure Lab at Duke, and consultant engineer with the Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab. Meier played an active role in the planning of the facility during its construction.

Meier belonged to numerous professional engineering and scientific organizations. He was active in the N.C. section of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Durham Engineers Club, and the Duke chapters of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.

Otto Meier was married in 1935 and had three sons.