Bridgewater College

VIDEO: TINY MAY HALL OF FAME INDUCTION SPEECH

Tiny May is one of the most learned and service-oriented men to ever have competed in athletics at Bridgewater College. He received the honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Bridgewater College in 1990. A catcher and third baseman on the baseball team, Tiny was first team as a freshman in the spring of 1921 and remained so until his graduation in 1924. He teamed with his brother, Kit, as the May battery and led the Eagles to outstanding season in 1924. Tiny loved the position of catcher, where he was the team leader, calling pitches and running the team on the field. The May battery was also successful in the Valley League, where they led New Market to a first place season during the summer of 1923. Tiny, who only weighed 130 pounds, turned down professional offers but stayed in baseball managing Weyers Cave to the Augusta County championship in the summer of 1925.

As an undergraduate at BC, May suggested the nickname "Eagles," which was voted upon the student body in 1923. He suggested Alexander Mack as the honoree for the college library. He also developed the school's code of arms and had classmate I.J. Sanger design it.

May graduated with a B.A. degree from Bridgewater in 1924 and went on to teach at Cowen High School in West Virginia. The following year he moved to Kealukekua, Hawaii as Director of Athletics at Konawaena High School, subsequently returning as principal at Motaoka High School in West Virginia. He completed his M.A. at the University of Virginia. In addition, he completed post-graduate studies at the University of London, University of Burmingham, England and at Columbia University. He taught English at Christobal High School in the Panama Canal Zone during 1941-42. In 1946, he became a professor of English at Bridgewater and later chaired the English Department. "Prof. May" as he was known by the students, served as Director of Public Information and Sports Information. In all, he served the College from 1946-88.

Tiny May was an established and renown leader in the Town of Bridgewater. He was Mayor of Bridgewater from 1958-68,.past master of the Eureka Lodge, President of the Bridgewater Rotary Club and Chairman of the Rockingham Democratic Party. He is a published freelance author, completing works on the life and history of the people in Augusta and Rockingham Counties.