He and his two younger brothers grew up in Lubbock and, subsequently, Fort Worth, where Mayer graduated from Southwest High School in 1973.

Mayer then went to Houston, where he worked in sales for the Wayne Bull Company, and married Katherine in 1978.

The next year they moved to the Dallas area where Scott was associated with the Ralph E. Russell Company as a manufacturers' representative.

An Episcopalian since birth, Mayer reports that he sensed a call to ordained ministry for some time, but wrestled with it for several years.

He remained as rector of that parish until he was elected from a field of four nominees in November 2008 as Bishop of Northwest Texas.