The year was 1918. The place was Hannibal, Missouri. Businessman Robert L. Myers (Bob) was born to Essie and W.L. Myers. His family moved to
Omaha when he was four years old. After attending Lake Elementary School and Technical High School, he earned degrees from Howard University in Washington D.C. and San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. His brother, Lawrence (Kenneth) Myers, is a graduate of Howard University and St. Louis College of Mortuary Science. Kenneth’s son, Lawrence (Larry) Myers, Jr., graduated from Tennessee State University and John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville.
Robert worked in a funeral home in Oakland, CA three years before returning to Omaha to work with his father, W.L. the revered founder (1921) of the Myers Funeral Home. The funeral home is the oldest black business in Nebraska and has been a fixture on the Northeast landscape for 86 years. In an era before specialization, a funeral director was a jack-of-all-trades. “We did everything from car mechanics to medicine to law to vocal singing to counseling to barber/beautician work to yard work.” Bob and Kenneth are now retired. The funeral home is now under the direction of Larry Myers.
Bob learned the importance of civic-minded conviction and compassion from his father. During the 1960s, Bob felt compelled to get involved in the civil rights struggles, so he plunged deeply into civic and civil rights matters. Much of his community involvement focused on improving the plight of his fellow African Americans at a time when de facto segregation treated them as second-class citizens. As a lifetime member of the NAACP and treasurer of the Urban League, Robert supported equal rights efforts. As one of the founders of the 4CL (Citizens Coordinating Committee for Civil Liberties) he and his family participated in picket lines in the struggle to overturn racial discrimination. In his 4CL role, he went on record exposing Omaha’s shameful legacy of restrictive housing covenants. In a 1963 OMAHA STAR article, Myers is quoted saying, “The wall of housing segregation here is just as formidable as the Berlin Wall in Germany or the Iron Curtain in Russia.”
Bob was a member of Mayor Sorensen’s Bi-Racial Committee and his Human Relations Board. During this time, he somehow found time to serve on the Metropolitan and Near North side board of directors of the YMCA. He also served on the board of the National Council of Christians and Jews. His community affiliations and passions were many and brought him numerous awards, honors and recognitions. Bob, a 33 rd Degree Mason, is also a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Bob was the first African American male to be appointed and then elected in a citywide election to serve on the Board of Education for the Omaha Public Schools. During his 5 ½ year tenure (1963-1969) he fought behind the scenes to create greater opportunities for Black educators. During that time, the Board had a lamentable policy that largely limited the hiring of black teachers to the inner city. Bob tactfully demonstrated to the board members the unfairness of their teacher-hiring policies. It was during his terms of office that the board hired black school teachers to achieve integration in instruction and supervisory positions throughout the school district.
Bob is an accomplished tenor/baritone vocal soloist. His wife Bertha Myers, is a 2007 Inductee in to the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame. She is a gifted classical, spiritual, sacred and jazz musician on the piano and organ. Bob and Bertha have volunteered their time performing together for numerous churches and civic functions. They continue to work together in their retirement community. Their daughter, Karen, has been a music teacher and is currently a guidance counselor in the Omaha Public Schools. Daughter, Janet DePriest, is a retired educator from the Kansas City Missouri Public School District.
