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Dennis Meyers with President Jimmy Carter
Photo Above: Dennis Meyers with President Jimmy Carter while working at WNET

Dennis Meyers took advantage of every opportunity WOUB had to offer


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Meyers graduated from Ohio University in 1968

ATHENS, OH – Dennis Meyers came to Ohio University from Brooklyn, New York in 1964 following in his father’s footsteps.

“I was a second-generation Ohio University student. My dad also graduated from Ohio University. So that was really great,” said Meyers. “But I also knew I wanted to study broadcasting, and Ohio University had a great program for that.”

Meyers started working at WOUB Radio as soon as he could. He did on-air work as well as behind-the-scenes production work. Meyers eventually started working at WOUB TV in the engineering department.

“I wanted to learn it all, and WOUB gave me the chance to do that.”

Meyers graduated in 1968 and was hired as a pre-production engineer at the network level, ABC TV, in Manhattan. He was promoted to assistant director of network operations before leaving for a position at NBC TV.

“I was a pre-production supervisor at NBC television network. I got everything ready for various shows. I worked on programs like Tomorrow with Tom Snyder which aired after The Tonight Show,” said Meyers.

Meyers left NBC to work in the advertising industry as a commercial producer at J. Walter Thompson. He worked on advertising campaigns like Eastman Kodak and the We Never Promised You a Rose Garden U.S. Marine Corps recruiting campaign. But eventually Meyers moved back into television.

“I got the opportunity to work at the public television station in New York City – WNET,” said Meyers. “I was hired as an EIC (engineer in charge). I worked on a number of shows, ensuring that all facilities and manpower were adequate for that particular show. I actually found my stint at WNET quite comforting because I was returning to PBS.”

Meyers started at WNET in 1975 and worked at the station for 37 years before retiring in 2012.

“I got to do a lot of really cool things at WNET,” said Meyers. “One time we were working on a program featuring Pavarotti performing at Carnegie Hall, and I said ‘Hello’ to him backstage. Then I saw him reaching in pocket and he said he had to go back to his dressing room. When he came back, I learned he had forgotten to put a bent nail in his pocket. He was superstitious and really old-world Italian and believed that he had to carry a bent nail with him on stage to have a great performance.”

Meyers says he was glad to spend the bulk of his career in public broadcasting because it goes back to his WOUB roots.

“I owe my career to WOUB. I learned so much,” said Meyers. “WOUB was a tremendous help to me and taught me what the industry was like. I had the opportunity to learn all aspects of industry. It was wonderful.”