COL Henry “Hank” Mayer Jr. (Ret.), a military surgeon, DUSTOFF pilot who flew two tours in Vietnam and thousands of life-saving hours, rancher, sports enthusiast, Army veteran and community supporter, died unexpectedly May 5, 2015.
He was a resident of the Killeen area for 35 years and actively involved in many community activities. During his 30 years in the U.S. Army, his last assignment included serving as an orthopedic surgeon and deputy commander of Darnall Army Medical Center. He received numerous military awards including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal.
After his military retirement, he was employed as an orthopedic surgeon by Kings Daughters Clinic of Temple for over 20 years. He was a graduate of Ohio University and Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He was recruited to the new Texas Tech University School of Medicine after his second DUSTOFF tour in Vietnam where he met the man who was to be its director.
During the last 35 years, Dr. Mayer rarely missed a Killeen Independent School District football game. He joined the teams on the field the first quarter of his first game he attended in fall 1980 and stayed with the teams from then on. He was the “team Doc” for all of the Killeen ISD athletes who needed help. He also volunteered with the Athletic Department of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor as the team physician for the last seven years.
Dr. Mayer was a member of the Killeen Evening Rotary, a director on the board of the Greater Killeen Free Clinic, a recipient of the Medicine Man award in 2009, a Bell County rancher, a member of Harker Heights United Methodist Church, Junior Livestock Show supporter and lover of the outdoors.
