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    Mark Palmer •

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    Iowa high school state champ Bob Mayo passes

    Bob Mayo, 1960 Iowa high school state wrestling champ who continued his mat career in Colorado before making a name for himself in professional rodeo competition, died on May 26, just three weeks shy of his 75th birthday.

    Bob Mayo
    Born and raised on a farm just outside Grinnell in central Iowa on June 15, 1944 by parents Charles and Bernice Mayo, Robert James Mayo followed in the footsteps of his older brother Paul and took up wrestling at Grinnell High School, where he won the 103-pound title at the 1961 Iowa wrestling championships as a junior. Mayo earned a wrestling scholarship at Adams State University in Anamosa, Colo. but soon turned his interest to rodeo, again following his brother Paul.

    According to the Stephenville Empire-Tribune, Bob Mayo started rodeos in 1964. Mayo was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for nearly 15 years, competing in Bareback Bronco riding events, the Herald-Review reported. In 1966, he qualified for the first of six consecutive National Finals Rodeos.

    In 2011, Mayo was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

    After being born and raised in Iowa, Bob Mayo lived most of his life in Texas, including 25 years in the Dallas area, before moving to Sierra Vista, Ariz. in 2017.

    Mayo is survived by his wife, Eva; brothers Paul, Don and Roger Mayo; children: Tim (Jill) Eastep, Tom (Vanessa) Eastep, Terry Eastep, Mary (Gus) Gilstrap, Dawn (Randy) Wilson, Beau (Laura) Mayo, and Leslie (Tammy) Mayo; 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Bob is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Delores.

    Visitation for Bob Mayo will take place Friday, June 8 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hatfield's Funeral Home, 830 S. Highway 92, Sierra Vista, Ariz. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Village Meadows Baptist Church, 1407 El Camino Real, Sierra Vista.

    In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations on behalf of Robert Mayo be sent to Village Meadows Baptist Church's Sonshiners Senior Group.
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