JACK MEINERS

JACK MEINERS  Plant Pathologist  
Jack P. Meiners, 96, a plant pathologist retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture''s Research Center at Beltsville, MD died April 24, 2016, after a brief illness. He had lived in Silver Spring, MD since 1958.Dr. Meiners, who joined the USDA''s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 1946, came to the Beltsville Research Center in 1958 to help manage research for the national program of breeding and diseases of cereal crops. Beginning in 1965 he assumed a similar position for the ARS'' national program of research on all crop plants. In 1970 he was appointed leader of ARS'' national program of research on the breeding and diseases of beans, peas and other edible legumes. With the reorganization of ARS in 1972, he was appointed Chairman of the Plant Protection Institute at the Center, administering research on plant insect pests and diseases. He left this position in 1974 to engage in research on bean diseases, which he continued until his retirement in 1980.Prior to coming to Beltsville, Dr. Meiners researched grass and wheat diseases at a USDA research facility in Pullman, Washington, for which he was given a Superior Service Award by the USDA.Dr. Meiners was born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington. He received a bachelor''s degree in agronomy and a doctorate in plant pathology from Washington State University and, before joining USDA, he was a Professor of Plant Pathology at the university. Following retirement in 1980, Dr. Meiners consulted on agricultural research in various locations in Africa, Asia, and South America. During his career, he authored some 75 scientific papers.During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in the Aleutian Campaign and in the Submarine Service in the Pacific.A long-time member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Wanderbirds Hiking Club, Dr. Meiners was a dedicated hiker. He maintained sections of the Appalachian Trail and other trails for more than 30 years. After retiring, he hiked more than 20,000 miles in the U.S. and in a number of foreign countries. Other interests included his dogs, gardening, cooking, and playing the harmonica.His first wife, Pat Puckett Meiners, died in 1981. He is survived by his wife, Mary Massey; three children by his first marriage, Dr. Jane Meiners (Scott Wilson) of Corvallis, OR, Lee Meiners (Gina) of Silver Spring and Neil Meiners of Frederick, MD, and daughter-in-law, Robin Meiners of Jefferson, MD; two sisters, Helen Ballester of Jacksonville, FL and Ruth Williams of Modesto, CA; and eight grandchildren.Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, 118 Park Street, SE, Vienna, VA 22180-4609.At his request, there will be no service.