“Why Rotary” – the story of Jack Mayo’s passion for Rotary

Vietnam veteran Jack Mayo served more than 20 years in the Navy, retiring with the rank of Commander. His most significant assignment was Assistant Chief of Staff U. S. Naval Forces Vietnam providing liaison between Vietnam’s own military leaders in Saigon with Americans patrolling the Mekong Delta in shallow-water naval vessels.

After Navy retirement Jack joined both a publishing firm and a Rotary club in San Diego. He served as club president and later as District Governor in Southern California. After his second retirement (from his business career) Jack moved with his wife Nita Louise back to her hometown of Austin Texas. Her father had been the 1949 President of the Rotary Club of Austin. Jack is now a member of that club.

Having lost his chance at high school football while temporarily paralyzed with polio his freshman year (1952), Jack was drawn to the Rotary Foundation’s signature project: global eradication of Polio. Another reason for Jack’s passion for Rotary are Foundation-funded Rotary Peace Fellowships developing potential peace negotiators – something any combat veteran would support!

Jack and his wife Nita Louise have four grown children. They had two grandsons. Both served in the Marine Corps. One survived military service and is now a civilian.