The Lou Myers Portrait, by artist Frederick Hightower, is located near the entrance of the Della Brown Taylor Art Gallery
in the Davis Fine Arts Building.
Actor and theatrical director Lou Myers was born Lewis Eddy Myers in Chesapeake, WV, on September 26, 1935 to Dorothy Louise Brown Myers
and Otis Louis Myers. His love of performing began while growing up in Charleston, WV, where he appeared in Sunday school church and high
school drama productions. After his father's death, Myers moved to Cleveland, Ohio for work. One of his performances there was in the Karamu Theatre's
junior department production of "Take a Giant Step." In 1951, Myers joined the U.S. Air Force were he earned his GED. After his discharge
in 1953, Myers attended West Virginia State College, where he received his bachelor's degree in sociology.
A few years after graduating, Myers began a fifty year career in the entertainment industry.
His talents ranged from narration and stage plays to Broadway shows and appearence in movies. His career would culminate with his
most recognizable role as Mr. Gaines in the television series "A Different World," which ran from 1988 through 1993. Myers passed away
in 2013, but his spirit continues to inspire students at State through this artwork. West Virginia State is proud to call Lou Myers a
Yellow Jacket and congratulate him on a wonderful and accomplished career in the arts.
Myers stage and screen credits and career are discussed in greater detail in the Memorial Service and Lifetime Achievement Ceremony Lewis Eddy
"Lou" Myers program to the far left. (click on the image and a pdf downloads)
The near left program, is from February 15 - 19, 1991, when he was on campus as an "Artist in Residence," part of the "Centennial
Artists Series". (It is also click-downloadable.)
Lou Myers' Portrait Memorial Service & Lifetime Achievement Ceremony Program 4, download program 4.3Mb