He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in 1949 and his Juris Doctor from University of Michigan Law School in 1952.

He was the presiding judge of the McKean County Court of Common Pleas, 48th Judicial District of Pennsylvania from 1964 to 1970.

[1] Mencer was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on February 19, 1982, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge Daniel John Snyder Jr.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 18, 1982, and received his commission the next day.

[1] Mencer died on April 17, 2007, aged 81, at Bradford Regional Medical Center, McKean County, Pennsylvania, days after suffering a stroke.