Native Pennsylvanian, Dr. Strickler attended public schools and college there graduating from Clarion State University , Pennsylvania . He was Chief Instructor for the Clearfield, Pennsylvania Institute of Aviation and served as bombardier-navigator instructor during World War II and originated and headed the U.S. Army Air Corps College of Aeronautics at the Las Vegas , Nevada , Army Air Field in 1945. Merv earned his doctorate in education from Stanford University , Palo Alto , California in 1951. His professional work has been as educator, teacher educator, and later curriculum designer for colleges and universities in the United States and foreign countries and consultant in social studies, aviation, space, and transportation. While in government, he designed and directed the US Air Force, Civil Air Patrol Aviation Education and the Aviation Education programs for the Federal Aviation Administration. Merv has known and worked with Clarence Streit for more than forty years. He served as Executive Director of Federal Union from 1979 to 1982 and has served on AUD's Board of Directors since that time. As a Board Member, he served as: Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Vice Chairman of the Board.