Edwin Meader

Edwin Meader (September 21, 1909 – February 1, 2007) was a geography professor at Western Michigan University and philanthropist.

Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Meader moved to Kalamazoo in 1925.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=WMU mourns death of benefactor Edwin Meader |url=http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2006/11/059.html |work=WMU News |publisher= |date= 2007-02-13 |accessdate=2008-03-31 ] He studied at Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1933. While serving in World War II, Meader visited a University of Michigan excavation area in Egypt, fueling his intererest in geography and archaeology.

After the death of his first wife, Margaret, Meader married Mary Upjohn in 1965. The new couple donated millions of dollars to Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and various Kalamazoo charities.cite news |first=Douglas |last=Martin |authorlink=Douglas Martin |coauthors= |title=Mary Meader, 91, Pioneering Aerial Photographer, Dies |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/us/22meader.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |work=New York Times |publisher= |date= 2008-03-22 |accessdate=2008-03-29 ] One of their largest gifts was the donation of $4 million to Western Michgan University.cite news |first=Dave |last=Person |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Mary Meader lauded as great 20th-century explorer |url=http://blog.mlive.com/kalamazoo_gazette_extra/2008/03/upjohn_heiress_remembered_for.html |work=Kalamazoo Gazette |publisher= |date= 2008-3-18 |accessdate=2008-03-29 ] It resulted in the creation of the W.E. Upjohn Center for the Study of Geographical Change, after her grandfather. It digitizes maps and aerial photographs from all over the world and documents and evaluates geographic changes.

Meader died on February 1, 2007, at the age of 97. He is survived by his wife Mary, who died March 16, 2008.

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