Dr. Morris Lehman Mayer was born in Demopolis, Alabama but his family moved to Mobile where he graduated from high school. He served in the Army from 1944 until 1946 in the European Theater. After the war, he moved to Tuscaloosa to attend The University of Alabama where he earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1949 and taught economics for a brief period before heading for New York to earn his master of science degree in retailing from New York University in 1950. After a short stint as an assistant buyer for Abraham and Straus in New York, he was called to active duty with the Army again, until 1952. From 1952 until 1955, he worked as a buyer for Goldblatt Brothers department store in Chicago, and then earned his doctor of philosophy degree in business organization from The Ohio State University.
In 1960, he returned to Tuscaloosa to accept a position as associate professor of marketing at UA, which marked the start of a long and illustrious career in academia. He was promoted to professor of marketing in 1964 and served as Bruno Professor of Retail Marketing from 1986 to 1992. At the same time, he was director of the Hess Institute of Retailing Development from 1984 until 1992, and chaired the UA marketing department from 1969 until 1974. He was appointed Bruno Professor Emeritus of Marketing in 1992 upon his retirement.
During his 32 years of teaching, Mayer co-authored three highly successful textbooks on retailing, plus numerous other publications.
Mayer also found time to contribute to a number of professional and academic organizations, including serving as faculty advisor to the American Marketing Association, serving on the board of directors of the Alabama Retail Association and serving as president of the Southern Marketing Association and the American Collegiate Retailing Association.
Mayer was recognized in a variety of ways for his work including receiving the distinguished service award from Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Burlington-Northern Award for Meritorious Teaching from the Burlington-Northern Foundation, The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the UA National Alumni Association’s Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award, the AMOCO Outstanding Teacher Award, the Omicron Delta Kappa Student Service Award, the Outstanding Professor Award from the Commerce Graduate Association and the Penny Allen Award for Outstanding Service to Students.
His significant contributions to marketing were recognized with the Southern Marketing Association’s Fellows Award in 1986.
The Morris Lehman Mayer Award awarded by The University of Alabama recognizes one member of the graduating class and members of the teaching faculty who exemplify integrity, selfless service and leadership at UA and in the community along with making significant contributions to student life.
Mayer served on more than 100 public committees, from the Tuscaloosa Parks and Recreation Authority to the Tuscaloosa Community Orchestra Board.