With 40 years of coaching and administrative experience to his credit, Bill Mayo has left a tremendous impact on the shape of interscholastic athletics in the state of Arkansas.

Until his retirement in 1996, Mayo served as athletic director for the Blytheville Public Schools for 25 years. During that time, he consistently gained recognition, and, in 1981, he was named Arkansas Athletic Director of the Year by the National Council of Secondary School Athletic Directors. Mayo also was recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations with a citation that is presented to athletic administrators who have made outstanding contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local, state and national levels. One of Mayo's greatest honors was when he was inducted in 1998 into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Some of Mayo's achievements at Blytheville included developing one of the state's top athletic programs and refurbishing the school's athletics facilities, while maintaining the lowest school district athletic expenditures in the state. Mayo's goal as an administrator always was to provide for the needs of his coaches, so they could best use their athletic program as a means of educating young people.

Mayo gained national prominence when President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the White House Conference for a Drug Free America. From his work to reduce drug abuse in the schools, Mayo crafted "Target Blytheville," which was aimed at educating teachers, parents and students about drug abuse. This program, in the 2006-2007 school year, continues to impact students in the Blytheville Public Schools.

A leader in the field, Mayo has occupied several prominent administrative positions. In 1987, Mayo was selected as president of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Mayo also was a key figure in the formation of the Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association. Even though he has been retired for 11 years, Mayo continues to work tirelessly for athletic directors. Currently, Mayo continues to serve as liaison for the state of Arkansas to the NIAAA and is now serving as the chairman of the NIAAA Hall of Fame selection committee. He was also very instrumental in implementing leadership training in the state of Arkansas for athletic administrators.

Mayo graduated from Blytheville High School in 1952. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Arkansas State University in 1956 and his Master of Science in Education degree from ASU in 1962. Mayo has served as a head track coach at Southwestern University in Memphis, head football coach at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia and head football coach at Memphis Trezevant High School. He returned to his alma mater, Blytheville, in 1971.

In addition to his continued interest in athletics, Mayo has served two Lions Clubs as president, winning awards from each. He also served as "guiding" Lion for a new club and is active on the state as well as local level. He has been a member of the Schoolmasters and of the Eureka Springs Planning Committee, as well as serving his church as Sunday School director and church council chairman.

Mayo served with the United State Army from May 1957 to May 1959 and completed his military obligation on reserve standby duty with the rank of Captain.

He and his wife of almost 50 years, Marjorie, reside in Eureka Springs.