This year, Sinclair professor Laurel Mayer was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of fame. He has also been a Professor Emeritus here at Sinclair since 2013. Mayer retired from full time teaching in 2014 but remains an adjutant to this day.
The Clarion was able to sit down and have a pleasant conversation with Laurel Mayer about his time at Sinclair, and how he felt about his induction.
Mayer started by telling us about his career in the Air Force. He originally said that he wanted to go into education before all else, but things ended up going differently when he joined the airforce. Mayer said, “I only planned on staying for 4 years, but ended up getting so many good assignments that I stayed for 30.”
Although the Air Force kept him for many more years, he appreciated it because for one of his assignments he was able to meet his wife. Eventually, after having their children they wanted to find somewhere to settle, and that is when they came to Ohio.
When he retired from the Airforce, Mayer said that he had a totally separate type of job set up, but the contract ended up falling out. So, in his search for a job, he found one at Sinclair. For the next 35 years thereafter, he taught Political Science.
Mayer explained that he “never originally wanted to become a nominee for the veterans hall of fame, but friends, and coworkers wrote such a strong letter they ended up reaching out to me.” He went on to talk about how honored he felt during the whole thing and, at certain times, humbled as those around him made him feel that he was in the presence of much more deserving people.
Laurel Mayer’s name is going to be on a plaque with the other 2023 honoree. It will be going to the capital and staying there for at least 6 months.
If you want to take a class with professor Mayer, he still teaches at least one political science class per semester.
Faith Harrel, Reporter and Advertising Rep.