User:John Achatz/sandbox

P.D. Merrill comes from a long line of Merrills in Maine. He was a prominent entrepreneur in marine cargo handling, trucking, lumber, and housing

Early career
From 1965 to 1979, he developed and managed multi-family housing in 13 states and territories specializing in low-income inner-city communities. His last position before returning to Maine was Assistant Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority for two years under a court ordered reorganization plan.

Career in Maine
He returned to Maine in 1979 as Vice President of Merrill Industries, Inc., focusing on lumber and coal operations and the permitting of the new Merrill's Marine Terminal.

After the death of Paul E. Merrill in April 1982, he became Chairman of Merrill Transport Co. and Merrill Industries, Inc. Merrill Transport Co., a dry and liquid transporter serving the northeastern U.S. and Canada, was sold in 1993.

Merrill Industries built and operated Merrill's Marine Terminal, an independent bulk, break-bulk and general cargo marine terminal in Portland, Maine. Among the notable commodities imported through the marine terminal is newsprint for many of the largest newspapers in the northeast, including the Boston Globe, New York Times, Hartford Courant and Wall Street Journal. The business was sold in 2004 to Sprague Energy of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The terminal continues to handle exports and imports including paper, pulp, lumber, coal and road salt.

Merrill Auditorium
He was active in the restoration of the Portland City Hall auditorium, renamed Merrill Auditorium in honor of his parents, Paul E. and Virginia S. Merrill.

University of New England
P.D. Merrill was especially devoted to University of New England, where he was a trustee from 1983 to 2007. He was Board Chair from 1995 to 2000, during which time the University expanded significantly and merged with Westbrook College. The University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2000.

In his honor, the University named its makerspace the P.D. Merrill Makerspace and has established the P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business.

Charitable Trust
In 2006, he established the P.D. Merrill Charitable Trust which has supported the University of New England, Maine Historical Society and the Carter Center of Atlanta, Georgia.

Civic and professional affiliations

 * Maine Chamber and Business Alliance (Chair, 1998-1999)
 * Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
 * Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI)
 * Propeller Club of the United States, Portland Chapter (Maritime Person of the Year, 2000)
 * Maine Pulp and Paper Association
 * Camp Agawam