Mathematics

Student Awards and Scholarships

The Meacham Mathematics Memorial (M^3) Award is given to an outstanding graduating student for achievement in mathematical studies at Eckerd College. The award consists of a certificate, plaque, and cash honorarium. The award is endowed by the Meacham family in memory of founding faculty member Robert Meacham and alumnus Robert C. Meacham, Jr.

The Meacham Mathematics Memorial Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a rising sophomore each spring who has financial need and who demonstrates a deep and sincere fascination with mathematics, which Dr. Meacham described as ‘the beautiful language of science.’  The scholarship is renewable until graduation as long as the student continues to major in mathematics. The scholarship is endowed by the Meacham family in memory of founding faculty member Robert Meacham and alumnus Robert C. Meacham, Jr.

Biographical Information on whom the M^3 award and scholarship honors:

Robert Colegrove Meacham, Sr

Dr. Robert Colegrove Meacham, Sr. brought his wife, Katharine Miller Meacham (1921-) and family to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1960 to become part of the Founding Faculty for Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College) and Chairman of the Math Department.  During his 32 years at the college, Dr. Meacham served terms as president of the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors and as Florida Governor of the Mathematical Association of America.

The son of a Presbyterian minister and a homemaker, Robert Colegrove Meacham grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College).  He served as a Navy lieutenant in World War II as radar, torpedo and gunnery officer aboard the submarine Picuda from 1944 to 1945, receiving two Silver Star medals, a Bronze Star and a letter of commendation. After the war, he received a Master of Science degree and a doctorate in applied mathematics from Brown University and taught at Carneige Institute of Technology and the University of Florida before coming to Florida Presbyterian College.  He was active in Lakeview Presbyterian Church and a devoted father.

Dr. Meacham died at the College Harbor nursing facility on February 19, 2002. Despite the twin ravages of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, he could still identify the buildings of Eckerd College, the institution he loved so dearly, from across the lake. This recognition would bring a remnant of his famous smile.

Robert Colegrove Meacham, Jr

Robert Colegrove Meacham, Jr. was born in Providence, Rhode Island and grew up in Gainesville and St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated from Florida Presbyterian College (now, Eckerd College) in 1968 with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, then earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee.  He married Lynne Johnson (class of 1971) in March, 1972.

Robert Meacham worked for Union Carbide Nuclear Division in Oak Ridge, Tennessee before joining Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in 1983 as a computer systems analyst.  While his love of programming remained strong, his talents for managing people led him, sometimes reluctantly, into management roles with SAIC.

Robert Meacham was a dynamic, vibrant, caring and deeply involved member of the Oak Ridge community.  He was a frequent star in theatrical roles with the Oak Ridge Community Playhouse and valued member of the Oak Ridge Chorus.  Extremely active in First United Methodist Church, he also worked as a crisis hotline counselor for CONTACT Teleministries, interpreted for the deaf through American Sign Language, read textbooks and literature aloud for Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic and co-organized a peer counseling program at Oak Ridge High School.

Robert Meacham died on December 22, 2000 after a two year battle with melanoma.  He was survived by his wife, Lynne Johnson Meacham (Class of 1971) and daughters Andrea Litterer Meacham and Katharine Ruth Meacham (Class of 2000).