Bradley Edward Meyers: 1941-2017
It is with great sadness that the family and employees of B.E. Meyers & Co. Inc. announce the recent death of our Founder, Chief Innovator, and friend, Bradley Edward Meyers. Brad passed from this earth on the evening of 21 March, 2017, after complications due to a recent illness, and he was surrounded by family in his final moments at home. We are stunned and heartbroken by his loss.
Passionate. Positive. Persistent.
Brad graduated from high school in Brookfield, Wisconsin in 1959, afterwards attending a semester of college before leaving to follow his entrepreneurial spirit and make his own way. Brad held a variety of jobs over the years, such as selling orange juice and encyclopedias door-to-door in the 1960’s, truck driver, grave digger, medical and scientific equipment salesman at Roemer-Karr, explosives technician at EXCOA, commercial diver at his company Controlled Dynamics, astronomer, night vision equipment manufacturer, and lastly as the individual that set B.E. Meyers & Co. Inc. on our current path of systems integration and advanced photonics. He was the consummate entrepreneur, and was unwavering in his positive outlook in life, passion for new ideas, and persistent pursuit of his goals.
Innovation and Imagination
Brad’s legacy is primarily known by many in the Special Operations community through his products such as the IZLID™, DIAL™, GLARE™, MK Ranger™, and GRI2P™ series of lasers, as well as the B.E. Meyers Flash Hider line. He cited that his special gift was in finding the right people to help him reapply existing technologies in new ways to help the Warfighter. He was terrifically proud of the tremendous team that helped bring his ideas to life, and his legacy will continue on as the company is propelled by his infectious enthusiasm for the new, the different, and the exciting.
Memorial
Brad is mourned by his wife of forty-four years, Nancy; sons: Clint and Matthew; daughter, Rebecca; grandchildren: Jack and Alena; son-in-law, John; and daughter-in-law, Nicolle. Brad was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Arthur Meyers and his mother, Mabel Heidtman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He also leaves behind his faithful friend and tireless canine companion, Shadow.
The family extends their sincere thanks to the first responders of Eastside Fire and Rescue (WA), King County Sheriff’s Office (WA), and Sammamish Police Department (WA) for their support during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, the Meyers family asks that donations be made in Brad’s honor to charities that align with his interests, specifically, the Special Operations Care Fund, the National Rifle Association ILA, and his home church, the Community Church of Joy in Sammamish, WA.
Memorial service information will be forthcoming to industry, family, and friends. For questions regarding memorial attendance, please contact Mary Hance at mary.hance@bemeyers.com.
Tags: BE Meyers and Co Inc
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Brad’s passing. He was a true visionary and brought impressive capabilities to market which have been instrumental in the defense of our nation. He was a great man and he will be missed.
The Meyers family in particular, as well as the whole BE Meyers team is in our thoughts and prayers here at SSD.
There was not a better person on the planet. Every…single…person who ever met Brad is better for it. He will be sorely missed. His incredible generosity extended not only to family, but also to employees, friends, and business partners.
Every time I saw him, he taught me something. I remember his excitement to show me an instrument from a WW2 fighter Aircraft he had just found somewhere. It was evident that he loved and was proud of his children and the business he devoted his life to. You can also tell a ton about a person by the way they treat Animals, Shadow was his constant companion and enjoyed an awesome life with MR Meyers.
I am keeping his family in my thoughts, for I know that he is in a better place, knowing peace and grace.
I often addressed with authority-as Mr. Meyers or “yes, Sir”-because he rated that in what he did for the industry, his employee’s and those which surrounded him.
Everyone whom knows the Meyers family knows that, but it just seemed worth saying again. He was there in the beginning, pioneering or pushing for products we now may take for granted.
There are maybe a handful of companies remaining within industry that have the founders name on the wall and letterhead. A tough thing these days with direct responsibility associated with your birth certificate and metric of direct association.
When you visit BEM and Brad takes you out for a coffee and a chat, you know not many people would fight with their wheelchair to spend 20 minutes with you just to visit, then do the entire event in reverse to go back to work. He certainly didn’t need the hours.
If the digital age holds true and every work typed will last 1000 years, then these posts will ensure he is remembered.
Condolences to the Meyers direct/indirect family and Nancy Meyers for being there through it all, probably more than most know.
So sorry for your loss. Brad was an amazing and king person to everyone.
In my experience, Mr. Meyers was both personally generous and genuinely devoted to getting it right, for all the right reasons. Those traits are often lacking in industry and he stood out as a good man all the more for it.
I was out of country, just arrived back and I was told of the news. My sincere condolences to the Meyer’s family. His innovation was unsurpassed.
Rest In Peace, you and your family will be in our prayers.