Bernard Mayes facts for kids
Bernard D. Mayes was a British-American journalist, educator, and religious leader. He was known for his work in public broadcasting and for helping to create National Public Radio (NPR). He also taught at the University of Virginia and supported diverse communities.
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Biography
Bernard Mayes was born in London. He went to school at University College School. He then studied classical civilizations at Downing College, Cambridge. After college, he first worked as a teacher of Latin, Greek, and history. He later became a priest in the Anglican church.
In 1958, Mayes moved to the United States. He worked as a priest and helped lead a student house near New York University. Later, he moved to San Francisco and worked at a church there. This work grew into the Oasis organization, which helps people in need. In 2012, he was honored by the San Francisco Night Ministry. He also received awards from the California State Assembly and California State Senate for his public service.
In 1984, Mayes was invited to join the faculty at the University of Virginia. He became an assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1991. He then became the head of the Communications department. He also started the Program in Media Studies at the university. He won awards for helping students and was recognized by the University Seven Society.
When he retired from the University in 1999, he wrote his life story called Escaping God's Closet. This book won an award for religion and spirituality. In 2000, former students of the University of Virginia named the Bernard D. Mayes Award after him. His important papers are kept in several archives. These include the National Public Broadcasting Archives and the Library of Congress.
In 1991, he helped start a group at the University of Virginia. This group, called UVA Pride, supported all faculty, staff, and students. He also co-founded the Serpentine Society. When he retired in 1999, the Serpentine Society gave Mayes a special award. This award recognized his achievements and his contributions to the university. Each year since then, the Serpentine Society gives a Bernard D. Mayes Award. This award honors a distinguished graduate of UVA who shows great leadership and service in supporting diverse communities. He lived in San Francisco in his later years.
Broadcasting Career
Mayes started working as a journalist in 1958 for the BBC. He also worked for other networks, including KPFA-FM in Berkeley, California, from 1964 to 1968. In 1968, he helped create the public broadcasting system in the United States. He founded KQED-FM and became an executive at KQED TV in San Francisco. He then helped start and became the first working chairman of National Public Radio (NPR). After that, he advised universities and communities across the country for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Mayes also created many dramatic radio shows. He adapted classic Greek stories like Homer's Odyssey and Plato's Phaedo. He played the part of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings radio series in 1979. He also adapted several novels by Charles Dickens. The National Endowment for the Arts supported his radio play about the life of Thomas Jefferson.
He recorded many audiobooks for Blackstone Audio. These included The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. He also recorded Confessions and The City of God by Augustine. He was often heard in The Black Mass, a series of dramatic adaptations for Berkeley's FM station KPFA. In 1985, a collection of his lighter broadcast pieces was published. It was called This is Bernard Mayes in San Francisco.
Death
Bernard Mayes passed away on October 23, 2014, from sepsis.
