2025 Fairborn Sweetcorn Festival King & Queen -- Laurel Mayer and Betsy Mayer
Laurel Mayer was born and raised in a rural village of Niles (now the city of Fremont) , California. He graduated from Washington Union High School in 1954, and San Jose State College in 1958. He had completed the course work to teach high school Chemistry and Social Sciences, but he was also enrolled in Air Force ROTC and was called to active duty later that year. After completing Intelligence School in 1960, he was assigned to Bunker Hill (now Grissom) AFB., as a photo-radar intel officer with the 305th Bomb Wing. The highlight of this tour was meeting Betsy Senger. They were married in 1962 and went off to Yokota AB, Japan for two and a half years to begin their USAF married life. Assignments followed SAC HQ., Offutt AFB, where their first child, Michael, was born. Defense Intelligence Agency (Washington DC), Vietnam (1969-70). 1970 brought them to Fairborn where they bought their first Fairborn home and had two children (Mollie and Laura) at the WPAFB Hospital. From 1970 to his retirement in 1988, he had four assignments at Wright Pat (FTD, AFIT, DISAM, and finally as Director of Intelligence for AFLC). He was awarded 14 military medals and awards, including the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star (earned in Vietnam). After retiring from USAF, he became a Professor at Sinclair College for now 35 years, being elected to become Professor Emeritus when he stepped down from full-time teaching in 2013. Fairborn has been the Mayer’s hometown now for 55 years., with three children graduates of Fairborn High School. Laurel has been active in Fairborn programs during those years (including 20 years on Planning Board, 10 years on Parks Board, Fairborn Athletic Boosters, Fairborn City and School Levy Committees, St. Vincent de Paul food deliveries, Fairborn Education Foundation, Ushering at Wright State with funds going to Fairborn scholarships, supporting Fairborn’s Military History Museum, supporting Fairborn’s Christmas Projects)
Betsy Mayer was born and raised in Peru, Indiana
After graduating from high school, she enrolled in Indiana University (Kokomo)
She became engaged to Laurel in 1961, and they were married in 1962.
That year marked her introduction to becoming an Air Force wife.
It was off to Japan (literally halfway around the World), space available, since Laurel's orders to Japan came before they were married. She quickly adjusted to living in an offbase: “paddy house". (No telephone, no television), driving on the wrong side of the road, etc. She adjusted well, including teaching English to Japanese students, Professional modeling, including fashion shows at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel, and making lifelong friends. Returning to the states in 1964, Michael (the 2023 Corn Festival King) was born at Offutt AFB Hospital in 1965. For decades her years were filled with hosting and showing area highlights to visiting family and visiting friends (Boys Town, SAC Hq while in Nebraska), U.S Capitol, /White House (1966-69), living in D, C., Hawaii 1980-83. She also hosted and entertained family and friends during their four assignments at Wright -Patterson, where two daughters (Mollie and Laura) were born at Wright -Patterson. They bought their first home in Fairborn in 1970 and have called Fairborn home ever since. Betsy has been involved in community activities during all these years, including volunteering at Five Points Elementary, delivering food for St. Vincent de Paul. and volunteering for various school and community support programs. Her favorite pass time is bridge playing, which she works in to her schedule multiple times every week.
Laurel Mayer was born and raised in a rural village of Niles (now the city of Fremont) , California. He graduated from Washington Union High School in 1954, and San Jose State College in 1958. He had completed the course work to teach high school Chemistry and Social Sciences, but he was also enrolled in Air Force ROTC and was called to active duty later that year. After completing Intelligence School in 1960, he was assigned to Bunker Hill (now Grissom) AFB., as a photo-radar intel officer with the 305th Bomb Wing. The highlight of this tour was meeting Betsy Senger. They were married in 1962 and went off to Yokota AB, Japan for two and a half years to begin their USAF married life. Assignments followed SAC HQ., Offutt AFB, where their first child, Michael, was born. Defense Intelligence Agency (Washington DC), Vietnam (1969-70). 1970 brought them to Fairborn where they bought their first Fairborn home and had two children (Mollie and Laura) at the WPAFB Hospital. From 1970 to his retirement in 1988, he had four assignments at Wright Pat (FTD, AFIT, DISAM, and finally as Director of Intelligence for AFLC). He was awarded 14 military medals and awards, including the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star (earned in Vietnam). After retiring from USAF, he became a Professor at Sinclair College for now 35 years, being elected to become Professor Emeritus when he stepped down from full-time teaching in 2013. Fairborn has been the Mayer’s hometown now for 55 years., with three children graduates of Fairborn High School. Laurel has been active in Fairborn programs during those years (including 20 years on Planning Board, 10 years on Parks Board, Fairborn Athletic Boosters, Fairborn City and School Levy Committees, St. Vincent de Paul food deliveries, Fairborn Education Foundation, Ushering at Wright State with funds going to Fairborn scholarships, supporting Fairborn’s Military History Museum, supporting Fairborn’s Christmas Projects)
Betsy Mayer was born and raised in Peru, Indiana
After graduating from high school, she enrolled in Indiana University (Kokomo)
She became engaged to Laurel in 1961, and they were married in 1962.
That year marked her introduction to becoming an Air Force wife.
It was off to Japan (literally halfway around the World), space available, since Laurel's orders to Japan came before they were married. She quickly adjusted to living in an offbase: “paddy house". (No telephone, no television), driving on the wrong side of the road, etc. She adjusted well, including teaching English to Japanese students, Professional modeling, including fashion shows at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel, and making lifelong friends. Returning to the states in 1964, Michael (the 2023 Corn Festival King) was born at Offutt AFB Hospital in 1965. For decades her years were filled with hosting and showing area highlights to visiting family and visiting friends (Boys Town, SAC Hq while in Nebraska), U.S Capitol, /White House (1966-69), living in D, C., Hawaii 1980-83. She also hosted and entertained family and friends during their four assignments at Wright -Patterson, where two daughters (Mollie and Laura) were born at Wright -Patterson. They bought their first home in Fairborn in 1970 and have called Fairborn home ever since. Betsy has been involved in community activities during all these years, including volunteering at Five Points Elementary, delivering food for St. Vincent de Paul. and volunteering for various school and community support programs. Her favorite pass time is bridge playing, which she works in to her schedule multiple times every week.
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Past Kings and Queens
Year King Queen
2024 Warren Brown Marilyn McCauley
2023 Michael Mayer Dr. Greta Mayer __(husband and wife)
2022 Bill Doorley Jane Doorley __(husband and wife)
2021 Pete Bates Pam Bates (husband and wife)
2020 No Event (Covid Restrictions)
2019 Jamie Hensley Linda Hall
2018 Dan Kirkpatrick Lori Sue Luckner
2017 Pastor Craig Fourman Leann Fourman (husband and wife)
2016 Paul Newman Connie Newman (husband and wife)
2015 Leroy Farthing Ellen Slone-Farthing (husband and wife)
2014 Carl Day Rhonda Day (husband and wife)
2013 Fred Pumroy Sue Red
2012 Loren Red Jane Trame
2011 Ray Wylam Dorothy Taylor
2010 Bob Carico Linda Riffle
2009 Mike Foy Carolyn Hollon
2008 Ron Russell Cathy Barber (husband and wife)
2007 Raymond Acus Marlene Acus (husband and wife)
2006 Dr. John Peterangelo Norma Nikkola
2005 Ron McDermott Metta Whitt
2004 Thomas Swaim Janet Swaim (husband and wife)
2003 Dr. Michael Horton Marcia Horton (husband and wife)
2002 Jim Baines Joan Dautel
2001 Ray Brentlinger Terri Brentlinger (husband and wife)
2000 Dr. Lynn E. Wolaver Arah-Dean Wolaver (husband and wife)
1999 Jim Leatherman Rena Leatherman (husband and wife)
1998 Joe Martin Evelyn Dobson
1997 Jack Huelsman Sonia Martin
1996 George Gehlauf Dawn Baines
1995 Louie DiPasquale Mary Cocca
1994 John Dalton Dottie Gheen
1993 Bob Kneisley Garnette Birch
1992 Bill Strautman Margaret Grube
1991 Al Knisely Alice Mae Warner
1990 Bob Martin Martha Fryant
1989 John Meyer Georgia Hale
1988 George Armstrong Lillian Beam
1987 Dan Hoak Dorothea Hoak (husband and wife)
1986 Harold Batdorf Marie Kendig
1985 Shorty Dapore Mary Poole
1984 Bud Warner Helene Morris
1983 Fred Kaufman Inez Armstrong
1982 Art Roehner Ila Stutler
2024 Warren Brown Marilyn McCauley
2023 Michael Mayer Dr. Greta Mayer __(husband and wife)
2022 Bill Doorley Jane Doorley __(husband and wife)
2021 Pete Bates Pam Bates (husband and wife)
2020 No Event (Covid Restrictions)
2019 Jamie Hensley Linda Hall
2018 Dan Kirkpatrick Lori Sue Luckner
2017 Pastor Craig Fourman Leann Fourman (husband and wife)
2016 Paul Newman Connie Newman (husband and wife)
2015 Leroy Farthing Ellen Slone-Farthing (husband and wife)
2014 Carl Day Rhonda Day (husband and wife)
2013 Fred Pumroy Sue Red
2012 Loren Red Jane Trame
2011 Ray Wylam Dorothy Taylor
2010 Bob Carico Linda Riffle
2009 Mike Foy Carolyn Hollon
2008 Ron Russell Cathy Barber (husband and wife)
2007 Raymond Acus Marlene Acus (husband and wife)
2006 Dr. John Peterangelo Norma Nikkola
2005 Ron McDermott Metta Whitt
2004 Thomas Swaim Janet Swaim (husband and wife)
2003 Dr. Michael Horton Marcia Horton (husband and wife)
2002 Jim Baines Joan Dautel
2001 Ray Brentlinger Terri Brentlinger (husband and wife)
2000 Dr. Lynn E. Wolaver Arah-Dean Wolaver (husband and wife)
1999 Jim Leatherman Rena Leatherman (husband and wife)
1998 Joe Martin Evelyn Dobson
1997 Jack Huelsman Sonia Martin
1996 George Gehlauf Dawn Baines
1995 Louie DiPasquale Mary Cocca
1994 John Dalton Dottie Gheen
1993 Bob Kneisley Garnette Birch
1992 Bill Strautman Margaret Grube
1991 Al Knisely Alice Mae Warner
1990 Bob Martin Martha Fryant
1989 John Meyer Georgia Hale
1988 George Armstrong Lillian Beam
1987 Dan Hoak Dorothea Hoak (husband and wife)
1986 Harold Batdorf Marie Kendig
1985 Shorty Dapore Mary Poole
1984 Bud Warner Helene Morris
1983 Fred Kaufman Inez Armstrong
1982 Art Roehner Ila Stutler