Mayne Heritage Society
Born October 19, 1866, Earl Mayne was the youngest of eight children and resided with his family on a farm near Mason City, Iowa. It was here that Mayne learned the values of industry, self-reliance and self-respect. He was inspired to go to college by Miss Carrie Lane, the young principal of Mason City High School. Later, she became the world-famous Carrie Chapman Catt, leader of the women’s rights movement.
Intent on education, Earl Mayne paid his own way through college and simultaneously paid the expenses of a hired man who took his place working on the family farm. After completing engineering courses at the University of Iowa he worked for six years as a civil engineer until he saved enough money to attend Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City where he graduated in 1893.
Dr. Mayne ultimately moved to Bath Beach, a suburb of Brooklyn, NY, where as a young doctor he made his rounds on bicycle. He was a pioneer and reformer in protective and preventative health measures. He was one of the founders of the Bay Ridge Hospital in Brooklyn and for many years was the president of its board of directors. He held the presidency of the Bay Ridge Medical Society and a Governorship in the American College of Surgeons. He practiced until 1948, a year before his death.
As part of his estate plan, Earl H. Mayne, MD, FACS established a trust in 1944 with $64,461 of stock and named the American College of Surgeons as a beneficiary. Dr. Mayne felt that supporting the research and educational programs of the College was one of the best ways to foster future development of the surgical sciences.
From 1944 to 1994, earnings from the Mayne Educational Fund were used for medical scholarships supporting approximately 2,900 medical students. As directed by Dr. Mayne’s trust, in 1994 the American College of Surgeons received $1,150,000 from the Mayne Educational Fund to support, in perpetuity, future programs of the College.
To recognize Dr. Mayne’s vision, made possible through his estate, the Mayne Heritage Society has been established.
The Mayne Heritage Society recognizes individuals who wish to support the mission of the American College of Surgeons through a planned gift of estate commitment.
The requirements for membership are:
- Naming the American College of Surgeons as a beneficiary in your will or living trust, or
- Establishing a planned gift of any type or size to benefit the American College of Surgeons.
The benefits of membership are:
- Listing in the Honor Roll of Donors and American College of Surgeons Foundation Annual Report
- Invitation to American College of Surgeons Foundation events
- Providing for the future of the American College of Surgeons
To become a member of the Mayne Heritage Society, please contact the Foundation:
American College of Surgeons Foundation
633 N. Saint Clair St.
Chicago, IL 60611-3211
312-202-5338
Revised January 12, 2011