Vinita Merrill 1905-1977 Vinita Merrill was born in Oklahoma in 1905 and died in New York City in 1977. Vinita began compilation of Merrill’s in 1936, while she worked as Technical Director and Chief Technologist in the Department of Radiology, and Instructor in the School of Radiography at the New York Hospital. In 1949, while employed as Director of the Educational Department of Picker X-ray Corporation, she wrote the first edition of the Atlas of Roentgenographic Positions. She completed three more editions from 1959 to 1975. Sixtysix years later, Vinita’s work lives on in the thirteenth edition of Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positioning & Procedures. Philip W. Ballinger, PhD, RT(R), FASRT, FAEIRS, became the author of Merrill’s Atlas in its fifth edition, which published in 1982. He served as author through the tenth edition, helping to launch successful careers for thousands of students who have learned radiographic positioning from Merrill’s. Phil currently serves as Professor Emeritus in the Radiologic Sciences and Therapy, Division of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, at The Ohio State University. In 1995, he retired after a 25-year career as Radiography Program Director and, after ably guiding Merrill’s Atlas through six editions, he retired as Merrill’s author. Phil continues to be involved in professional activities, such as speaking engagements at state, national, and international meetings. Eugene D. Frank, MA, RT(R), FASRT, FAEIRS, began working with Phil Ballinger on the eighth edition of Merrill’s Atlas in 1995. He became the coauthor in its ninth and 50th-anniversary edition, published in 1999. He served as lead author for the eleventh and twelfth editions and mentored three coauthors. Gene retired from the Mayo Clinic/Foundation in Rochester, Minnesota, in 2001, after 31 years of employment. He was Associate Professor of Radiology in the College of Medicine and Director of the Radiography Program. He also served as Director of the Radiography Program at Riverland Community College, Austin, Minnesota, for 6 years before fully retiring in 2007. He is a Fellow of the ASRT and AEIRS. In addition to Merrill’s, he is the coauthor of two radiography textbooks, Quality Control in Diagnostic Imaging and Radiography Essentials for Limited Practice. He now works in hospice through Christian Hospice Care and helps design and equip x-ray departments in underdeveloped countries.