Rolling Meadows pioneer served District 15 in era of growth

Rolling Meadows pioneer and former Palatine Township Elementary District 15 board member Joel D. Meyer died this week, about a month after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Meyer served on the District 15 board from 1957 to 1978, an era in which 16 schools were built, including Carl Sandburg Junior High School in his hometown. His name is on cornerstone plaques for many District 15 schools.

District 15 kicked off Sandburg's 50th anniversary celebration in 2011 by dedicating the learning resource center as the Meyer Media Center. He cut the ribbon for the festivities.

Meyer, who celebrated his 100th birthday May 9, died Sunday, June 7. When asked about the secret to reaching the milestone, the Rolling Meadows resident quipped: "Stay alive."

He was one of the Rolling Meadows pioneers who lived in the community before it officially was incorporated as a city in 1955.

Meyer was working for Northwestern University when he was approached the day before the April 1957 election to run for the District 15 board and give Rolling Meadows representation on the panel. He won as a write-in candidate.

The length of his tenure on the board is behind only Walter R. Sundling, whose name is on a Palatine junior high school.

An Army veteran, Meyer helped oversee District 15's growth from about 1,700 students to more than 11,000 by the time he stepped down. One of his first tasks as a board member was auctioning off the district's sole remaining rural schoolhouse.

Meyer began his Northwestern career in 1947 and retired as associate dean of its McCormick School of Engineering in 2000.

His survivors include two sons and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Enid.