Mazel Melburn Merrill Sr. was born on September 7, 1920, in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. He was the son of Mazel Milburn Merrill and Nellyne Merrill Hill Depew. He was married to Marjorie Allyn Merrill. He attended high school in Long Island, New York, and later graduated from Cornell University in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He served in the United States Army with the 740th Tank Battalion in World War II. Known as the “Daredevil Tankers”, the 740th was a separate battalion that fought from Utah Beach all the way to the Baltic Sea in support of various divisions of the US war effort.

Inspired by his father, an early aviation pioneer, Mazel began his career with Fairchild Aircraft Engines before working for many years as an industrial engineer with LTV Corporation. He eventually retired as an engineering manager with Lone Star Gas. Mazel was also deeply involved with Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist, where he served as an usher, Sunday school teacher, and First Reader. He strongly supported the Gladney Center for Adoption, where he became affectionately known as “Pops.” He died on March 27, 2010, and is now buried in the Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA.

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