William Benson Mayo was born in Chatham, Massachusetts in January 1860. After attending public schools, Mayo moved to Boston and worked in a variety of jobs until accepting a low-level office position with the noted steam engine manufacturers Hooven-Owens-Rentschler Company. Rising to vice president of the company, Mayo met Henry Ford during negotiations and design meetings for the installation of nine massive steam-gas power generators at Ford's Highland Park plant. Mayo accepted a position with Ford Motor Company as chief power engineer in 1913 and became one of Henry Ford's most trusted employees. Over the course of his career at Ford, Mayo was directly responsible for the planning, implementation, organization, and success of many of Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company's iconic developments. Mayo had direct supervision of the design and construction of Rouge River Plant factories and power plants and the various non-productive facilities of the massive plant. As chief power engineer, Mayo was responsible for the design and construction of power plants at most Ford plants including Northern Michigan and various Village Industries. Beyond power plants, Mayo was instrumental in Ford's acquisition of Lincoln Motor Company in 1922 and the tool and machine design needed to make Lincoln production more profitable. Through his work integrating Lincoln into Ford Motor Company, Mayo worked closely with Edsel Ford and through that relationship became involved in various elements of Ford's aviation work. Ultimately, Mayo directed the Stout Metal Airplane Division of Ford and construction of the company's aircraft manufacturing plant. Mayo retired from Ford Motor Company in 1932 and died in February 1944.
From the description of William B. Mayo records series, 1912-1932 (bulk, 1925-1932) (The Henry Ford). WorldCat record id: 85892138
