G. Douglas Mayo

George Douglas Mayo was born February 3, 1917 in Somerville, Tennessee, the son of James Laurence Mayo and Margaret Green Mayo. His first 12 years of formal education were in the public schools at Somerville. His higher education included two years at the University of Tennessee Junior College (now U.T. Martin), and two years at Tennessee State Teachers College, Memphis (now The University of Memphis) where he received a B.S. in Education in 1939. In 1941 a few months before the entry of the United States into World War II, he received a M.A. Degree in Psychology from George Peabody College (now a division of Vanderbilt University). After World War II, he received a Ph. D. Degree in Psychology from Ohio State University.

Douglas was active in athletics, having played left guard on the Fayette County High School football team. He played the same position at UT Junior College, which included their undefeated season in 1936. His last two years of college featured an undefeated/untied record in 1938. After graduation, Douglas served as assistant football coach at Fayette County High School and as head coach at Magnolia, Mississippi High School before entering a U.S. Navy officers training program in 1942. At both of the above high schools, he also taught chemistry and general science.

Douglas was in the Navy during most of World War II. About three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he committed to the Navy V-7 officer training program, which was available to college graduates. The program consisted of four months of training followed by active duty. In his case the first month was a special course at the University of Notre Dame and the last three months were at the Naval Reserve Midshipman School, New York, aboard the USS Prairie State docked in the Hudson River at 136th Street in New York City.

The V-7 Program required its members to be unmarried until they were commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. Douglas and Mildred were married at nearby Riverside Church shortly after the commissioning ceremony. From that time on Mildred and Douglas worked closely on everything they undertook and Mildred played a quiet but important role in all of Douglas achievements.

Soon after completing Naval Reserve Midshipman School, Douglas was assigned to the Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet with Headquarters at Norfolk, Virginia. Douglas and Mildred were able to stay in Norfolk for nearly a year. He was at the Amphibious Training Base at Little Creek and Mildred taught first grade at Bayview Elementary School in Norfolk. During that time, Douglas received a promotion and became Commanding Officer of USS LCI(L) 468 which later was assigned to the US Pacific Fleet. LCI 468 was sunk as a result of enemy action in the Marianas Operation on June 18, 1944. Douglas and most of the crew survived and Douglas received orders to command another ship, USS LCI(L) 476. He also was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

About two months before the end of the war, which ended August 14, 1945, Douglas was rotated back to the United States and Mildred met him in Oakland, California. Douglas’ last assignment while on active duty was at the NROTC Unit at Rice University as Assistant Professor of Naval Science and Tactics. The two courses he taught were Navigation and Naval Administration and Law.

Douglas was released by the Navy to inactive duty on June 1, 1946 but remained in the Ready Reserve until he had completed a total of 31 years of active and inactive duty. One of his inactive duty assignments was as Commanding Officer of Naval Reserve Officers School 6-13, at the Naval Reserve Training Center, Memphis. He retired in the rank of Captain on July 1, 1973, having served in this grade for ten years.

Douglas had a successful civilian career which ran concurrently with his Naval Reserve career. At the end of the 1947-1948 school year, he had completed all requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Psychology (except dissertation) at Ohio State University.

In a fortunate coincidence, the Naval Air Technical Training Command with Headquarters at Millington, Tennessee was seeking to establish an applied research program to support their nationwide training program. The Civil Service position of Director of this program was offered to Douglas and he remained in the position for more than 23 years. The Navy Training Research Laboratory opened a branch office at the Millington Naval Base and asked Douglas to head this operation, in addition to his regular duties. Numerous R&D projects were conducted, one of which resulted in the first computer managed training course in the Navy. Each project resulted in one or more research reported and often in an article published in a scientific or professional journal. As a result, Douglas was the author or co-author of more than 40 such articles or books. He also presented research papers regularly at regional and national psychological association meetings. As a member of the American Psychological Association he attained the top membership status of Fellow.

In December, 1973, Douglas retired from his Navy Civil Service position to accept a new position at Memphis State University. The objective of this program was to support and improve instruction throughout the University and was called the Center for Instructional Service and Research. The position also included serving as adjunct professor and teaching classes in the Department of Foundations of Education, as needed. After developing this program for about 6 years, Douglas retired again, this time under the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement Act, but he continued to support the university in a number of ways. For example, he served a term as President of the M Lettermans Club and two terms as President of the Emeriti Club, now known as the University of Memphis Association of Retirees. Also, he was a leader in founding the University of Memphis Museum, known as The Heritage Room. As a part of this effort, he and his wife, Mildred, established an endowment to support a Graduate Assistantship for the Heritage Room. The University of Memphis recognized their support of the University in 2005 by selecting them for the annual True Blue Alumni Award.

In 1953, Mildred and Douglas’ son, George Douglas Mayo, Jr., was born and they have always had a close and loving relationship with him, his wife, Barbara, and their two daughters, Morgan and Lizz. For this and many other blessings, they are truly grateful.

Mr. Mayo departed this life Thursday evening, April 24, 2014 at the Allen Morgan Health Care Center in Memphis where he resided for 16 months. He was 97 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. Mayo were conducted at 3 P.M. Sunday, April 27th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Dr. Stephen Shapard, pastor of the Bartlett United Methodist Church, officiating. Personal remarks were given by Mr. Mayo's son, George D. Mayo, Jr. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center – Main Chapel of Somerville.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Bartlett United Methodist Church, 5676 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38134 or the University of Memphis Developmental Office, Memphis, TN 38152.