“My dad lived a good long life,” Harry Mayo Jr. said. “He was healthy right up until the end.”
The elder Mayo died at Hospice of Dayton, his son said.
His family moved from Springfield in 1946 and opened Mayo Skating Rink in 1947, “which was an instant success,” according to his family’s account of his life.
Mayo joined the Air Force in 1952 and was stationed in Spokane Wash. Upon his return to Dayton, he opened Mayo car wash and Venetian Blind laundry.
In 1969 he became one of the first minority-owned industrial suppliers to General Motors, providing packaging and assembly services.
“Mayo Industries in 1975 became one of the first minority suppliers in the country to surpass over $1 million in sales,” his family’s statement said. “By 1990 Mayo Industries and their affiliate companies were housed in over 1,000,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space with over 150 employees in eight different facilities.”
A message seeking comment was sent to a GM media contact.
Mayo retired as an automotive supplier in 1995 and opened Broadway Drive-Thru. In 1998, he opened a restaurant called 4200 Place in Moraine.
His family said the Mayo businesses had been featured at various times in national publications such as the New York Times , Inc. Magazine, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Essence, and highlighted in a national General Motors ad touting the company as an “outstanding minority supplier.”
Mayo is survived by his wife Pamela and three children, Harry, Kevin, and Melissa and his sister, Juanita Mayo Barnett; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, his family said.
A private graveside service is planned for Friday at Woodland Cemetery.
In case you missed it:
About the Author
