Tony Mayard graduated from Vermilion Catholic High School in Abbeville in 1969 and earned a certificate in Computer Science from Spencer Business College in 1970.
In January 1971, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving until September 1979. During his military career, he completed behavioral science coursework through Baylor University at Fort Sam Houston and Chaminade University while stationed in Hawaii. His work in behavioral science, particularly in death and dying counseling, earned him two Army Commendation Medals. Throughout his service, he remained committed to his artistic practice, painting commissioned murals for two military bases and creating works for commanding officers and fellow soldiers.
After returning to Louisiana, Mayard worked in retail while continuing his artistic education through courses at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). In 1981, he joined his father in operating the family farm and later helped open the family's restaurant south of Abbeville. Artwork displayed in the restaurant attracted the attention of the art director at Garan Manufacturing in Kaplan, leading to his hiring as a graphic artist when the restaurant closed in 1984.
Over the next eight years at Garan, Mayard developed his skills as a commercial artist, creating licensed artwork for Disney and serving as lead artist for Major League Baseball's "Longgone" series. In late 1991, a serious medical condition forced him into early retirement, though he continued to create personal artwork.
In 1996, Mayard was invited to exhibit his work at the newly established Abbeville Cultural and Historical Alliance Center Museum and Art Gallery. The following year, he was appointed the institution's first curator, a position he held until his retirement in 2018. During this time, he also worked at the Depot Gift Shop and as assistant manager of Magdalen Place Reception Center from 2001 to 2010, while overseeing the Alliance Center's exhibitions and staff.
Mayard also played a significant leadership role in the local arts community. He served on the board of the Vermilion Arts Council and was elected president in September 2005, remaining in that role until January 2018. In recognition of his lasting contributions, the Abbeville Cultural and Historical Alliance named its primary exhibition space the Tony Mayard Exhibition Hall.
Over the course of his career, Mayard has been featured in numerous publications, including The Baton Rouge Advocate, The Abbeville Meridional, and the August 2018 issue of Bon Nouvelle, recognizing both his artistic achievements and his dedication to preserving and promoting the arts in Vermilion Parish.
