Obituaries

Oliver William "Dub" Myers

Photo of Oliver William "Dub" Myers
Brig. Gen. OLIVER WILLIAM "DUB" MYERS, former Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas Army National Guard, died on Thursday at age 82. Gen. Myers died at his home in Jacksonville with his wife of nearly 60 years, Billie Ann, by his side. He was an encourager as well as a commander. Myers was born June 15, 1930 in Forrest City to Oliver C. and Gertie Riggs Myers. He graduated from Forrest City High School and received a Bachelor of Arts from Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, Ark. In the fall of 1947, Dub Myers enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard. It was the beginning of a military career that, with only a brief interruption, would continue for 40 years. Myersʼ military education includes numerous basic and advance courses including the United States Army Field Artillery, Infantry, and Army Engineer School Officer Advanced Courses, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College Senior Reserve Officer Course. Myers enlisted in Battery B, 445th Field Artillery Battalion in September 1947. In February 1953, he was ordered to extended active duty and served in Korea with Battery C, 555th Field Artillery Battalion from July 1953 to November 1954. Upon release from active duty, he was reassigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard. Key assignments in the Arkansas Army National Guard included S-1, S-3, and Executive Officer of the 4th Howitzer Battalion, 142nd Artillery; Executive Officer of the 875th Engineer Battalion; Commander 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery; plus Executive Officer, Deputy Commander and Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). He was federally appointed and recognized as a Brigadier General on August 5, 1982 and designated a STARC Commander of the State Area Command on July 23, 1984. Myers proudly appointed the first African American officer to a command leadership position in the Arkansas National Guard, and he was the first to recommend a female officer for command of a company. He never forgot his own modest roots and looked for ways to help others fulfill their potential based on merit and without prejudice. After his retirement from the National Guard in 1987, Myers worked as community relations manager for Gwatney Chevrolet in Jacksonville. Throughout his life, he was involved in service to his country and his community in roles both formal and informal. He quietly made sure that children in the community had supplies they needed. He was past president of the National Guard Association of Arkansas, the Paragould and Jacksonville Rotary Clubs, the Association of United States Army Arkansas Chapter, and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Boards of United Way of Pulaski County, the Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club and the Capitol Club in Little Rock; as Chairman of the Jacksonville Civil Service Commission, as Military Affairs Chairman for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; and as a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church. He was a 33rd Degree Mason and a member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Arkansas Activities Association, and the Community Council of Little Rock Air Force Base. Myers received numerous military and civilian awards. Some of those are The Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, The Korean, United Nations and National Defense Service Medals: The Army Commendation Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters; Rotary Club, Sertoma Club and Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year; the Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame; the American Legion Baseball National Commendation for Outstanding Service and the Military Airlift Commandʼs Distinguished Citizen Award, and the Central Arkansas Distinguished Volunteer Award. Myers was also the first Honorary First Sergeant LRAFB, an Honorary Chief Master Sergeant LRAFB, and Honorary 61st Airlift Squadron Commander. He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Wilma Green and Donald Myers. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Lee Ann (Dewey) Mishler of Maumelle and Olivia Myers Farrell of Little Rock; grandchildren, Grant (Rebekah) Martin of Maumelle, Andrea (Sam) Dickey of Paragould, Max Farrell of Des Moines, Iowa, and Zoe Farrell of Little Rock; great-grandchildren, Chloe and Luke Martin and Ella Dickey; two sisters, Alma (Chas) Geiger and Barbara (I.B.) Stewart; brother-in-law, Maj. Gen. (ret.) William (Gayle) Page and sister-in-law, Barbara Moore and a host of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 12 between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home. The memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m., Friday, July 13 at First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville. Interment will follow at 12 p.m. at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home (501) 982-2136. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.

Published July 8, 2012

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