After retiring from a career in radio broadcasting, Mayes returned to school. He graduated summa cum laude from St. Edward's University in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science in 2002 at age 78. He went on to earn a Master of Liberal Arts degree in 2005 and a Master of Business Administration in 2006 from St. Edward's University.
After World War II ended, Mayes enrolled in Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) in Lubbock, Texas. Majoring in Electrical Engineering, he received a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in May, 1949. While at Texas Tech he served as president of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.