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SR alum, rodeo star Harley May dies at 82
Harley May, a Sul Ross State University graduate and a founder of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) died Tuesday, Oct. 28, at his home in Santa Ana, Calif. He had suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was 82. A private memorial service was planned by his family. A memorial will also be held Dec. 10 at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev. May, a 1951 graduate, was a three-time NIRA All-Around Cowboy (1949-51), leading the Sul Ross rodeo team to the university’s first three consecutive NIRA titles. He entered the professional rodeo circuit and won three world steer wrestling championships (1952, 1956, 1965), and remained a top qualifier in the event for three decades. He was a charter member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame, inducted in 1979. He was a recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987 and served as Sul Ross Rodeo coach from 1995-98. He and his wife, Lynn also raised paint horses while living in Alpine. They moved to Santa Ana in 2007. May was born June 2, 1926, in Deming, N.M., and competed in youth rodeo events starting at age 11. After graduating from Deming High School in 1943 he served three years in the Army Air Corps. After his discharge in 1946, May enrolled at New Mexico A&M College (now New Mexico State University), then transferred to Sul Ross in 1949. He graduated with a B.S. degree in range animal husbandry. He served as president of the NIRA while at Sul Ross, and was active in leadership of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, serving four terms as president. In 1959, he organized and chaired the PRCA’s first National Finals Rodeo in Dallas. He later served as chairman of the Competition Committee. During his professional career, May was the first to place in the top 15 in all seven rodeo events at one time or another. He won 44 saddles and more than 200 buckles. Survivors include his wife, Lynn; a brother, Ross May of Deming, N.M.; a sister, Norma Gaby of Tucson, Ariz.; a half-sister, Madelieine Hutchins of Aztec, N.M.; his stepmother, Elizabeth May of Aztec, N.M.; and numerous extended family members. Avalanche staff Avalanche: Could you specifically discuss two border issues, individually? We are not asking what is possible, we are asking what you would do if given complete control of the issues. Avalanche: Could you specifically discuss two border issues, individually? We are not asking what is possible, we are asking what you would do if given complete control of the issues. First, what should the state be doing regarding immigration issues. We know that most decisions on this will be made at the federal level, both through Congress and the Executive Branch. That said, what, if anything, does Texas need to do? Fort Davis losing Chuck Hunt; historic site chief going to Normandy Special to the Avalanche SR alum, rodeo star Harley May dies at 82 Harley May, a Sul Ross State University graduate and a founder of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) died Tuesday, Oct. 28, at his home in Santa Ana, Calif. He had suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was 82. HAZMAT training for area arranged Tom Santry, Brewster County’s “master of disaster” — as County Judge Val Beard fondly calls him — has arranged a HAZMAT training course for county and area first responders on Nov. 8, a short course agreed to by Union Pacific after two recent close calls involving UP trains. Flynt talks about Sul Ross, life and a book Mike Flynt, who spent much of last year under a media microscope as he played out his final year of eligibility, talked with me at length earlier this week about his life and his new book, “The Senior: My Amazing Year as a 59-Year-Old College Football Linebacker.” |
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