Name Russell Meyer, Role Executive | Awards Collier Trophy | |
Russell W. "Russ" Meyer Jr. (born 1932 in Davenport, Iowa, United States) is the Chairman Emeritus and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cessna Aircraft Company. He was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, the Collier Trophy on two separate occasions (once jointly with Cessna), and the Meritorious Service Award from the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA). In 2009, he became inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Meyer graduated from Yale University with a B.A. degree in 1954 and was awarded a Doctor of Law degree from Harvard Law School in 1961. While pursuing his degree he served with the Marine Corps Reserve from 1958 to 1961.
Between 1961 and 1966, Meyer was an attorney with Arter & Hadden in Cleveland, Ohio. He was President and CEO of the Grumman American Aviation Corporation from 1966 to 1974, and joined Cessna in 1974 as an Executive Vice President. Meyer was elected the company's CEO in 1975 and would serve in that role from 1975 to 2000 and again from June 2002 to 2004.
He conceived the Citation Special Olympics Airlift in 1986, which used Cessna Citation Jets to transport thousands of athletes to the National Special Olympics. Meyer also helped lead the passage of the 1994 General Aviation Revitalization Act, and was involved in various programs throughout his career that aimed at growing and strengthening the aviation industry.
He was a close and longtime friend of legendary golfer, pilot and Cessna owner Arnold Palmer.