Show By t I i 1 1 44 I I 4 i 1 I MERLIN J. J MECHAM This Week Merlin J. J Mecham PhD Ph.D. Director of Speech Pathology Pathology Pathology Path Path- and Audiology University University sity of Utah Merlin J. J Mecham discovered discovered discovered ered the profession of teaching teaching teaching teach teach- ing to be so rewarding that he has made it his lifetime career After completing his MS degree at Utah State University University University Uni Uni- he was given a one- one year appointment as Instructor tor of Speech Pathology and Audiology I enjoyed teaching teaching teaching teach teach- ing so much he recalled that I 1 planned to continue my education toward the Ph.D. Ph.D. Ph.D. Ph D. D degree degre in order to teach permanently at the University level WHILE attending Ohio State University and completing his doctorate Mr Mecham served as Coordinator of a cerebral palsy center for teenagers and adults in Columbus He then moved to Provo and taught at BYU for eight years In 1961 he came to the University of Utah and has been teaching for the past nine years as professor and di director director director di- di rector of Speech Pathology and Audiology DR MECHAM and family have found Bountiful a most ideal area in which to live A native of Utah he was bornand born bornand bornand and raised in the Uintah Basin His wife Neva is a native of Preston Idaho They met while students at BYU They have two children Annette 16 a junior at Bountiful High next fall Robert 20 is attending attending attending at at- tending a school for exceptional exceptional exceptional children We consider our two children to be our closest pals he emphasized In addition to his professional professional professional involvement Dr Mecham Mecham Mecham Me Me- cham has been in constant contact with civic and professional professional pro pro- professional organizations in the community He served for two years ears as president of the Utah Speech and Hearing Association Association Association As As- and two years as president of the Utah County Coordinating Council for Exceptional Exceptional Exceptional Ex Ex- Ex- Ex Children HE WAS A member of the Armed Forces serving in the Adjutant Generals General's department from 1943 to 1946 in the Alsa- Alsa ka Philippines as well as the USA He is a member of the Kiwanis Club and numerous numerous numerous nu nu- nu- nu professional and health related organizations At the present time he is terminating two terms as president of the Davis County Association for Retarded Children His contribution in his field has given him the distinction of being listed in Who's Who In The West and in Men of Science for the past six years PERSONAL hobbies for the include swimming golfing skiing as well as boating The family especially especially especially espe espe- loves camping out and fishing he said My liMy professional professional pro pro- professional hobby which I find most interesting is writing I have written over 30 professional professional professional articles as well as three textbooks In addition I have developed developed developed devel devel- four different tests which are used internationally to measure the language skills of children one of my tests has been translated into Por Por- IN CONCLUSION Dr Mecham opined I III believe that involvement involvement involvement involve involve- ment in religious and political activities are vital to mental and social health The value of any human life cannot be overestimated human concern concern concern con con- cern for other human beings is society's greatest contemporary contemporary contemporary need |