Shirley Meyer helped fund MCCC's La-Z-Boy Center, which is 20 this year

Tom Adamich
·3 min read

MONROE — Shirley Meyer was the kind woman whose big heart and love for the arts in Monroe County continues to impact residents and visitors alike.

Born Shirley Adele Madden on Sept. 1, 1922, in Champaign, Ill., Shirley Meyer experienced tragedy as a young child, as reported by The Monroe News, in her obituary published on Nov. 9, 2013. She died a day earlier on Nov. 8, 2013. Shirley Meyer’s dad was a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad and died tragically on Sept. 18, 1925. Her grandfather also died of a heart attack when he heard the news of his son’s death.

Shirley Meyer sits outside the building that bears her name – the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater – which is located on the campus of Monroe County Community College. Her $1 million gift in 2000 led to the construction of the facility, which opened in 2004.
Shirley Meyer sits outside the building that bears her name – the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater – which is located on the campus of Monroe County Community College. Her $1 million gift in 2000 led to the construction of the facility, which opened in 2004.

These early setbacks were followed by a lifetime of success and early employment at Michigan Bell before marrying Richard M. Meyer of the Monroe Auto Equipment Company on Aug. 10, 1946. The MCCC theater named after her would be one of Shirley Meyer’s key philanthropic accomplishments.

Shirley Meyer, community benefactor, died Nov. 8, 2013.
Shirley Meyer, community benefactor, died Nov. 8, 2013.

The potential for MCCC to raise $3 million in a capital campaign through The Foundation at MCCC would require the college to embark on a focused project that would need both local college and state support to be successful. This would eventually be realized in January, 2000, when Shirley Meyer donated $1 million to The Foundation at MCCC to create the Richard M. and Shirley A. Meyer Endowment for the Arts. These funds also became the seed money for what would become the La–Z–Boy Center, Meyer Theater.

Originally named the “MCCC Instructional Center for Business Training and the Performing Arts,"  the building would become one of the key fixtures on the MCCC campus. According to an article in The Agora, MCCC's students newspaper, reporter Crystal Pierce, Michigan Sen. Bev Hammerstrom (R-17th District) and Rep. Randy Richardville (R-17th District) attended the 2002 groundbreaking ceremony along with MCCC board members Michael Meyer, Thomas Waldecker, Mary Kay Thayer, Marjorie Kreps, and William G. Huntley.

The La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater has hosted many events and concerts during its 20-year history. Shirley Meyer donated the sculpture pictured here. The sculpture, titled Circle Squared, was created by Texas-based artist Nic Noblique.
The La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater has hosted many events and concerts during its 20-year history. Shirley Meyer donated the sculpture pictured here. The sculpture, titled Circle Squared, was created by Texas-based artist Nic Noblique.

The La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater project was a longtime dream of MCCC’s first MCCC president, Dr. Ron Campbell, and moved forward by second president, Jerry Welch – propagated by Shirley Meyer’s donation. La–Z–Boy Incorporated donated $2 million. Michigan state funding and MCCC matching funds would pay for the remainder of the project. MCCC’s president at the time, Audrey Warrick, kept a close watch on the project as a result of her music background. Warrick was concerned, of course, about how sound would resonate in the auditorium and overall acoustics in the facility. She felt it was truly going to complete the campus.

Construction on the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater began in 2002. Funds for the project came from Shirley Meyer, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, the State of Michigan and MCCC.
Construction on the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater began in 2002. Funds for the project came from Shirley Meyer, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, the State of Michigan and MCCC.

Completed in 2004, The La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater started booking its first acts with a Beatles tribute band, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Agora Choir listed as some of the first performers at the venue. Another cover band, the Queen-inspired group Ultra Violet, was also featured in an Agora review by Terri McConnaughey.

On Sept. 23, 2007, the MCCC Antiques and Autos Show would include special, related La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater-centric activities. In addition to a new carnival and craft show feature, the dedication of Little Pond (adjacent to the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater and the Campbell Learning Resources Center) and an original sculpture donated by Shirley Meyer placed in front of the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater would take place. The sculpture, titled Circle Squared, was created by Texas-based artist Nic Noblique.

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Family Fun Tyme Amusements Co. managed games and food stands. The craft show featured vendors set up in the Warrick Administration Building Room 173 area. The MCCC Antiques and Autos Show was a great success, with 340 autos on display and thousands of visitors attending.

— Tom Adamich is president of Visiting Librarian Service, a firm he has operated since 1993. He also is project archivist for the Greening Nursery Co. and Family Archives and the electric vehicle awareness coordinator at Monroe County Community College.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Shirley Meyer helped fund MCCC's La-Z-Boy Center, which is 20 this year