Joel Myers, a three-time Penn State graduate, will serve as Grand Marshal for Homecoming 2016, an annual honor saved for a notable alumnus. Myers received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in meteorology from Penn State in 1961, 1963, and 1971, respectively.

Myers is best known as the founder and president of weather service AccuWeather, which is used around the world and by various news stations for weather data. Myers founded AccuWeather in 1962 after earning his Bachelors and stationed the company in State College. He also spent time as a lecturer, instructor, and assistant professor of meteorology at Penn State before retiring in 1981. It’s estimated that in his time as a professor, Myers taught 17 percent of all practicing meteorologists in the country.

Upon leaving Penn State faculty and television and radio forecasting, Myers held a seat on Penn State’s Board of Trustees from 1981 to 2014 after being elected by alumni and then re-elected every three years. He was appointed as an Emeritus Trustee in July, 2014. Some alumni are likely to be unhappy with the pick; Myers was on the Board of Trustees in 2011 that fired Joe Paterno.

During his time at Penn State, Myers was an editor for The Daily Collegian and a member (and eventual vice president) of Sigma Gamma Epsilon.

Homecoming is scheduled for the week of October 2-8, culminating in the parade Friday night and game against Maryland on Saturday. This year’s theme is Old State Inspiring New Beginnings and will be carried through the various activities of the week.

Transparency note: Onward State is produced independently by students and hosted by Lazerpro Digital Media, owned by Dan Myers, son of Joel Myers. All content is produced autonomously.