Donny Mayo Leads by Example in Houston
If you run into Donny Mayo at a Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) event, you’ll likely see him in his uniform: a custom Houston Astros jersey emblazoned with the IBEW Local 66 logo. It’s the perfect fit for a guy whose passionate about his union, his Texas roots, and the great outdoors.
As a longtime committee member for the USA’s Houston Gulf Coast Conservation Dinner and co-chair of the Houston Area Sporting Clays Shoot (March 7, 2026), Mayo has poured countless hours into ensuring these events bring union members together for a good cause and a good time.
His involvement with the USA began around 2010, when he attended his first conservation dinner while still “working the tools” as a power plant mechanic. For 25 years, he maintained boilers, turbines, and auxiliary equipment in coal-fired power plants. Now, as a business rep for IBEW Local 66, Mayo’s commitment to his members is the engine behind everything he does.
Mayo (orange shirt) and his team at the Houston Area Sporting Clays Shoot
“These events are about camaraderie,” Mayo said. “It’s seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and doing something outdoors that we all love.”
Over the years, the Houston shoot has faced its share of challenges—venues that didn’t quite fit, scheduling hiccups, and the long climb back from the drop in participation after COVID. But through every challenge, Mayo and his Local 66 remained unwavering.
Chris Piltz, USA’s Events Manager, has seen Mayo’s dedication firsthand.
“He doesn’t rest when it comes to these events,” Piltz said. “Donny and his Local 66 crew have been loyal no matter what—same sponsorship, same energy, year after year. He’s always asking, ‘How can we make this better?’”
Mayo deer hunting in Texas.
This year, the Houston shoot will take place on American Shooting Center’s wooded course—a welcome change from past venues. Shooters can look forward to shaded stands, natural scenery, and a course layout that feels more like hunting instead of standing in a field.
For Mayo, it’s about more than sport. Sporting clays, he says, is “like golf with a shotgun.” Many of his members are avid duck and bird hunters, and the shoot provides a chance to test their skills, share some laughs, and reconnect outside the job site.
“If you happen to beat your buddies, that’s good too,” he added.
Mayo has spent his life hunting and fishing across Texas—from bird hunting in the piney woods at age 11 to deer hunting on his wife’s family farm in the Panhandle. Each year, the Houston events draw more excitement, and Mayo hopes that momentum builds.
“I just want people to come out, get involved, and experience it for themselves,” he said. “Whether it’s in Texas or anywhere across the country, being part of this keeps us connected.”
