Brother Roger Allen Mayes ’66 has a resume that gives new meaning to the word “impressive.” Currently serving as the Director of Education Programs for the Idaho National Laboratory, he has over 31 years of experience working with the United States Department of Energy and its facilities. In his current capacity, he coordinates the continuing undergraduate and graduate education of INL employees, manages 250 interns per year in order to give them experience in the rapidly advancing field of nuclear science, and helps maintain close ties between INL and a number of universities nationwide. In the past, as Director of the ES&H Division at the Department of Energy’s Chicago Operations Office, he juggled such diverse responsibilities as nuclear and reactor safety, industrial hygiene, fire protection, environmental compliance, and radiation protection.
Despite his heavy workload, Mayes manages to devote a great amount of time to volunteer work: he chaired a capital expansion campaign at the historic First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls, annually helps collect and deliver food and Christmas gifts to over 400 needy families, and is managing the Eastern Idaho Technical College scholarship fund drive. He is married to the Rev. Pamela W. Mayes, and they have two children: John Ferree, age 29 (wife Kelly), and Christopher Ferree, age 27.
Brother Mayes spent quite a bit of time at Purdue, where he received his B.S. in biology, his M.S. in radiological sciences, and his Ph.D. in environmental sciences. His memories of Purdue are centered around his involvement with the Chi chapter, where he served as a House Manager and member of the go-cart crew.
When asked, he has this to say about his brothers: “My experiences at Chi were among the most meaningful of my life in terms of the brotherhood and long-lasting relationships with many of my pledge brothers. Even today when groups of us are able to get together at Homecoming or other events, the distance and the years are quickly forgotten and it feels as though we are still as close as when we were living in the house together.”
