Remembering Dr. Meggers, carrying on the tradition at WKU

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Any of his colleagues will tell you he was overqualified but fit right in on the hill as an educator.

Dr. Kay Meggers died in an accident in 2022. He was a colonel in the German military, served as Executive Vice President and Group President for Global Rolled Products at Alcoa/Arconic, he was the Senior Vice President at Siemens U.S. Building Technologies Division and Business Unit Head of Building Automation. He brought decades of experience into the classroom with a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics and found a love for teaching and mentorship at Western Kentucky University.

Meggers had a personal tradition that his colleagues were unaware of before his death on December 30, 2022 back in his home country of Germany, giving out books to graduating seniors. If you were a student graduating from the Gordon Ford College of Business and a student of the late professor, Meggers would gift you a copy of “Make Your Bed” by Willian H. McRaven. The book is about how the little things are important and can serve as stepping stones in your overall goals, prioritizing the completion of tasks and teamwork to foster a great leader.

Following his passing, a scholarship fund has been created in his honor and business college professor Dr. Shane Spiller carries on the tradition of handing out copies. Spiller said it’s a worthwhile endeavor and he hopes that the fund set up to purchase the books continues long after his teaching days are over.