Business pioneer returns for Hall Award
By Tim Gallagher, Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2008
Merwyn C. "M.C." Gill of Pasadena, Calif., stands with Iowa Lakes Community College President Dr. Harold Prior at the commencement exercise Friday night in Estherville, Iowa. Gill, 97, received the Jim Hall Outstanding Alumnus Award. Gill was graduated from Estherville Junior College in 1929. He rode the train from his hometown of Terril, Iowa, to take classes. (Photo by Tim Gallagher)
ESTHERVILLE, Iowa -- The man traveled by train to junior college in 1929 with a monkey in his suitcase.
That's what I learned about Merwyn C. Gill on Friday night during commencement exercises at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville. Gill, 97, an entrepreneur known throughout the world for his pioneer work in composite technology, was on hand to receive the Jim Hall Outstanding Alumnus Award.
He began his career at this sprawling institution when it was Estherville Junior College in the late 1920s. He rode by train from his home at nearby Terril, Iowa, to begin his post-high school course work.
A monkey went along?
"Whenever I rode the train, the monkey came with me," Gill told me after the ceremony. "I sold newspapers in Terril as a boy and earned enough money to buy the monkey. I named him Satan."
Gill earned his credits in Estherville before transferring to the University of Minnesota where he paid $26 per quarter for engineering classes. He made his way to California, graduated from the University of Southern California's chemical engineering school and eventually founded a company that now does $150 million in sales annually. M.C. Gill Corp., the world's largest manufacturer of cargo liners for aircraft, employs more than 700.
His fingerprints, in effect, are all over the interior of planes throughout the world. But before he affected planes, he had his trains in Northwest Iowa. Did he use the 30-minute commute from Terril to Estherville to study?
"Oh no," he said with a laugh. "I wasn't much of a student."
He was a leader, however, and played quarterback on a junior college football team that won a state title. Also played basketball.
The losses taught him as much as the victories. His advice to Friday's grads: "Don't discourage easily. Determination and persistence: That's what it takes."
He had plenty of both. This son of a pharmacist began his first company out of his garage in California in 1945. His efforts to market laminated place mats, lamp shades and plastic wallpaper to post-war America didn't catch on immediately.
After seven years of struggling, he headed to work at Aerojet while running his business at nights and on weekends.
His focus turned to composites, materials made with hardened plastics that replaced wood and metals. Firms such as Douglas Aircraft began contracting with Gill as his composites proved to be lighter and stronger than materials used previously.
Like a jet airliner, the M.C. Gill Corp. took off. Six decades, it's still soaring. Seven years ago, Gill gave $7 million to the school of engineering at USC to endow the Merwyn C. Gill Foundation Composites Center.
He gave a substantial gift at that time to the Save the Park effort at Arnolds Park, Iowa, as well. He and wife Hester remain friends of the Iowa Great Lakes, staying here frequently in a summer home they still maintain.
"The college has changed a lot since I was here," he said. "But it looks good. And Estherville really looks good."
Estherville Mayor Lyle Hevern in presenting the alumnus award, read a letter from former U.S. Rep. Berkley Bedell, a longtime friend of the Gills.
"The example one sets for others in the way one lives his or her life is more important than all the honors and fame one may receive," Bedell wrote. "This is a wonderful honor you are receiving. But the example you have set for others in the way you have lived, and the accomplishments you have made since you rode that train up to Estherville are even more important, and I congratulate you on both!"
Following his visit, McGill will fly back to California. Probably in a plane he helped outfit. No monkey business there.
Three-hundred-twenty-two of Iowa Lakes Community College's 500-some graduates participated in the commencement exercise at the college gym Friday night. Some of the 2008 grads will soon work as nurses, others in law enforcement, broadcasting , welding and more. One student earned a degree in casino management, while a handful completed the wind energy and turbine technology program, the first of its kind in a U.S. community college.
That's what I learned about Merwyn C. Gill on Friday night during commencement exercises at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville. Gill, 97, an entrepreneur known throughout the world for his pioneer work in composite technology, was on hand to receive the Jim Hall Outstanding Alumnus Award.
He began his career at this sprawling institution when it was Estherville Junior College in the late 1920s. He rode by train from his home at nearby Terril, Iowa, to begin his post-high school course work.
A monkey went along?
"Whenever I rode the train, the monkey came with me," Gill told me after the ceremony. "I sold newspapers in Terril as a boy and earned enough money to buy the monkey. I named him Satan."
Gill earned his credits in Estherville before transferring to the University of Minnesota where he paid $26 per quarter for engineering classes. He made his way to California, graduated from the University of Southern California's chemical engineering school and eventually founded a company that now does $150 million in sales annually. M.C. Gill Corp., the world's largest manufacturer of cargo liners for aircraft, employs more than 700.
His fingerprints, in effect, are all over the interior of planes throughout the world. But before he affected planes, he had his trains in Northwest Iowa. Did he use the 30-minute commute from Terril to Estherville to study?
"Oh no," he said with a laugh. "I wasn't much of a student."
He was a leader, however, and played quarterback on a junior college football team that won a state title. Also played basketball.
The losses taught him as much as the victories. His advice to Friday's grads: "Don't discourage easily. Determination and persistence: That's what it takes."
He had plenty of both. This son of a pharmacist began his first company out of his garage in California in 1945. His efforts to market laminated place mats, lamp shades and plastic wallpaper to post-war America didn't catch on immediately.
After seven years of struggling, he headed to work at Aerojet while running his business at nights and on weekends.
His focus turned to composites, materials made with hardened plastics that replaced wood and metals. Firms such as Douglas Aircraft began contracting with Gill as his composites proved to be lighter and stronger than materials used previously.
Like a jet airliner, the M.C. Gill Corp. took off. Six decades, it's still soaring. Seven years ago, Gill gave $7 million to the school of engineering at USC to endow the Merwyn C. Gill Foundation Composites Center.
He gave a substantial gift at that time to the Save the Park effort at Arnolds Park, Iowa, as well. He and wife Hester remain friends of the Iowa Great Lakes, staying here frequently in a summer home they still maintain.
"The college has changed a lot since I was here," he said. "But it looks good. And Estherville really looks good."
Estherville Mayor Lyle Hevern in presenting the alumnus award, read a letter from former U.S. Rep. Berkley Bedell, a longtime friend of the Gills.
"The example one sets for others in the way one lives his or her life is more important than all the honors and fame one may receive," Bedell wrote. "This is a wonderful honor you are receiving. But the example you have set for others in the way you have lived, and the accomplishments you have made since you rode that train up to Estherville are even more important, and I congratulate you on both!"
Following his visit, McGill will fly back to California. Probably in a plane he helped outfit. No monkey business there.
Three-hundred-twenty-two of Iowa Lakes Community College's 500-some graduates participated in the commencement exercise at the college gym Friday night. Some of the 2008 grads will soon work as nurses, others in law enforcement, broadcasting , welding and more. One student earned a degree in casino management, while a handful completed the wind energy and turbine technology program, the first of its kind in a U.S. community college.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
