Merv

Mervyn "Merv" Maynard (c. 1931 – 2017) was an Aboriginal Australian jockey who rode numerous winners in a career spanning almost five decades. Maynard was inducted into the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame, an honour which he regarded as his greatest achievement.

Mervin "Merv" Garretson (1923 – 2013) was an American educator, leader, poet, author and deaf community rights advocate. His works were primarily directed towards changing mainstream opinion about Deaf culture and about the Deaf community.
Garretson played a vital role in highlighting issues regarding Deaf education. He was a special assistant to four Gallaudet presidents to serve Deaf education directives and worked to help American Sign Language gain academic recognition. His services to The Deaf Way conference also helped in shaping the Deaf culture and setting the precedent for the emerging field of Deaf studies. His efforts helped in increasing the employability of Deaf teachers in Deaf schools and promoting Deaf leadership in both national and international educational organizations.
In 1947, Garretson wrote "To You Who Do Not Understand", a piece that rejected the stereotype that people with deafness were somehow inferior to people who could hear. Through this, he argued that people with hearing disabilities are not "handicapped." This was an idea that was widely applauded and set the precedent for his struggles for the Deaf community.

Merv Griffin was a T.V. personality who launched "Wheel of Fortune," among other things.