| Jerry Merryman | |
| Birth Date: | June 17, 1932 |
| Birth Place: | Hearne, Texas, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Known For: | Co-inventor of the hand-held calculator |
| Alma Mater: | Texas A&M University (did not graduate) |
| Occupation: | Electrical engineer |
| Spouse: |
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| Children: | 1 daughter |
Jerry Dale Merryman (June 17, 1932 – February 27, 2019) was an American electrical engineer and inventor. He was a member of the team at Texas Instruments that developed the first pocket calculator in 1965.
Merryman was born on June 17, 1932, near Hearne, Texas.[1] He attended Texas A&M University but failed to graduate.[1] [2]
Merryman began his career at Texas Instruments in 1963.[1] [2] With Jack Kilby and James Van Tassel, he invented the hand-held calculator in 1965.[1] Two years later, "The first patent for the calculator was filed."[3] Merryman retired as an engineer for Texas Instruments in 1994 but continued to work for them as a consultant.[3]
Merryman was married three times. He first married Vernette Posey, followed by Sally Simon, and finally Phyllis Lee. He had a daughter, Melissa.[1]
Merryman died of heart and kidney failure on February 27, 2019, in Dallas, Texas, at age 86.[1] [2] [3]