Wendell Wise Mayes

Wendell Mayes (1898 – 1970) was a prominent Texas broadcaster and civic leader. He was appointed to the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents in 1966 by Governor John Connally and eventually served as its chairman. His wife, Dorothy Evans Mayes, had attended TWU, formerly known as the College of Industrial Arts.

Mr. Mayes was born in 1898 in Brownwood, Texas, the son of Will H. Mayes and Jessie Wise Mayes. His father was a Texas Lieutenant Governor and pioneer newspaper executive who founded the journalism school at The University of Texas. He graduated from Austin High School. Wendell received a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and began working in the newspaper business. He served in the US Navy during World War I, returning to marry Dorothy Evans.

Wendell Mayes owned radio stations in Brownwood, Midland, Austin, Victoria, Snyder and Fort Worth, Texas. Also, at one time, he was an owner of stations in Amarillo, McAllen, Sweetwater, Waco and Oklahoma City. He had interests in newspapers, banks, cable television systems and other businesses. He was active in state and national broadcasting organizations. Mr. Mayes was the mayor of Brownwood from 1939 until 1951. For 24 years he was a member of the Texas State Parks Board, longer than any other person. He served on many civic boards and was active in his church.

Wendell Mayes died in January, 1970 in Brownwood, Texas. Education had played an important role in his life. After the death of Mr. Mayes and his wife, their children, Wendell Mayes, Jr. and Jane Ellen Mayes Jamar, established the Dorothy and Wendell Mayes Scholarship Endowment Fund at Texas Woman’s University as a memorial to their parents.