Exhibit - President Gordon Guyer (1992-1993)
Gordon E. Guyer was the 18th president of Michigan State University and served from 1992-1993. Dr. Guyer came to Michigan State University in 1947 to begin studies as a fisheries and wildlife major. He eventually switched to entomology, and led one of the first American scientific groups allowed to visit China in the mid-1970s.
Dr. Guyer received his bachelor's degree (1950), master's degree (1952) and Ph.D. (1954) from MSU. He became a MSU faculty member in 1953. He is the author of over 60 scientific papers, some used as basic reference material in entomology.
Prior to being appointed as President of Michigan State University, Guyer was a Professor and chairman for the Department of Entomology, and the director of the Pesticide Research Center at MSU. He also served as the director of MSU Extension from 1973 to 1985. Guyer became MSU's 18th President on September 1, 1992.
Dr. Guyer has served as consultant to the following groups: Michigan Vegetable Growers' Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, Agricultural Council, Michigan Departments of Health, Conservation, and Agriculture; Agriculture and Ways and Means Committees, Michigan Legislature; and the Michigan Governor's office. He also held high-level positions at the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Kellogg Biological Station. He also was chairman of the Biological Science committee and a member of the Athletic Council at MSU.
Guyer received a National Science Foundation grant to participate in the International Congress of Entomology in London, 1964. He also received MSU's Distinguished Faculty Award in 1965.
Guyer was married to Norma Lake Guyer for 50 years, until her death in 2001. During their marriage, they had a son, Daniel, and a daughter, Dawn. Dr. Guyer was then married to Mary Gettel Guyer. (May 19-1930 - March 7, 2020) Gordon Guyer died on March 30, 2016, at the age of 89.
Oral history interviews of Gordon Guyer can be found on the Sesquicentennial Oral History website.
Finding aid to the Gordon Guyer papers (UA 2.1.18).
Exhibit created by Matthew Wilcox, April 2016.
Updated by Megan Badgley Malone, January 2020.
Related Objects
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 Guyer Accepts Wildlife Painting, 1993 January 20, 1993 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  Guyer Reception at Kellogg Center, 1992 October 9, 1992 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  President Guyer Addresses Students New and Returning to MSU, 1993 January 11, 1993 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
 Special Commendation to George Wallace, circa 1992 Date: 1990-1999 Image: jpg MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  State of the University Address, 1993 February 25, 1993 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
