The Hon. Robert Mayer, J.D.

In 1991, while living in the southeast Missouri town of Dexter, Robert Mayer took a chance that perhaps few people would. When his job as a manager at a local manufacturing facility was eliminated, he decided to go back to school to complete his undergraduate degree. Then he took an even bigger risk. He followed his dream of working as an attorney. He decided to leave the comforts of Dexter and move his wife and three young sons to Kansas City to pursue a law degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

This ability to take a risk, to follow a dream is only part of why Mayer (J.D., 1997) was chosen as the recipient of the 2005 Alumni Achievement Award by the UMKC School of Law.

”Often, as individuals we place parameters on ourselves and on our abilities. I believe we need to step outside of those self-imposed barriers and imagine great possibilities, because they do exist,” Mayer says.

A practicing attorney, Mayer’s career took on yet another, additional direction when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2000. Representative for the 159^th District, Mayer, a Republican, worked as the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Chairman and sat on the Agriculture and Judiciary committees. He received the Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award in 2002 and was named the 2003 Legislator of the Year by the Missouri Police Chief Association. He was also the Missouri Sheriff’s Association 2003 Legislator of the Year.

Elected to the State Senate in 2004, Mayer is passionate about making an impact in the state legislature. Though he won’t talk about political aspirations, he wants to continue to work for the citizens of Missouri.

Mayer has fond memories of the UMKC School of Law.

“Those were very productive years. I don’t think I understood the opportunities I was given at the time. I don’t know if I ever thanked anybody, but I am grateful to the administration and certainly all my teachers and faculty at UMKC for providing an outstanding legal education.”

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.  UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban affairs.

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