John R. Meyer was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 physicist

Physicist

A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...

 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

 who served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly

Wisconsin State Assembly

The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....

 as a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 state representative.

Background

Born in Milwaukee on July 17, 1930 to George L. N. and Edna (Zuerner) Meyer, Meyer attended Hartford Avenue School in Milwaukee, and then Milwaukee Country Day School

Milwaukee Country Day School

Milwaukee Country Day School was a country day school in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, under the headmastership of A. Gledden Santer , who had been operating a smaller school called St. Bernard's School since 1911; the school was begun in 1917, "incorporated by leading citizens."...

. He earned a B.A. (1951) and M.A.

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

 (1952) at Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

. He was employed as a research physicist by Allis Chalmers and served as a member of the executive committee

Executive Committee

Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...

 of the Milwaukee 18th Ward Republican Club.

Assembly

Meyer had held no public office until he was elected to the assembly in 1956 to represent the 18th Milwaukee County district (the 18th ward

Wards of the United States

In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...

 of the City of Milwaukee). After an easy victory in his party's primary

Primary election

A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....

 (3,462 votes to 890 for Louis J. Ceci

Louis J. Ceci

Louis J. Ceci is a Wisconsin jurist and legislator.Born in New York City, Ceci graduated from Marquette University and received his law degree there also. After being in private law practice, Ceci served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1965...

 and 228 for Walter Sukowatey), he defeated Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 Alfred Marcell by 8,567 to 7.504 in the general election

General election

In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...

. He was assigned to the standing committee

Standing Committee

In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...

 on taxation.

While he won his party primary in 1958 (he was perceived as a "liberal Republican" and opposed by Ida Mae Zimmerman, described as of the "Old Guard", whom he beat by over 2:1), he was defeated by Democrat Robert M. Curley by 6,846 to 5,318 in the general election.

Personal life

After leaving the Assembly, he worked at one time for the United States Postal Service

United States Postal Service

The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...

. For a while, he was married to Dr. Martine (Darmon) Meyer. He died December 30, 2010 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...

 after some years in an assisted living facility.