SR1592 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1592 LRB099 20846 MST 45606 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James Clair May, who passed away on January 16, 2016; and

WHEREAS, James May was born in Richmond to Charles and Julia May on December 15, 1929; he graduated from Richmond Burton Community High School in 1947, where he was involved in many school activities, including Student Class Council President and Captain of the 1946 undefeated Southern Regional Conference Champion "Raiders" 7-man football team; he attended the University of Illinois, where he graduated in 1951 with a degree in architecture; after college, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a 2nd Lieutenant stationed in Minnesota; he married Mary E. Bruce in January of 1953; and

WHEREAS, James May and his family moved to Plainfield in 1956 and he started work with Huber, Hunt and Nichols; his career started with the construction of Memorial Stadium at Illinois University; he went on to become the President of Huber, Hunt and Nichols, later known as the Hunt Construction Group in 1976; during his career, he oversaw the construction of some of the country's most well-known structures, including Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, the Superdome in New Orleans, and Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky; locally, he was involved in the construction of Market Square Arena, the AUL Building, Bank One Tower, the City County Building, and the Hoosier Dome; he was also a former President of the Associated General Contractors of Indiana; he later formed May and Associates, where he was involved with building the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis, Indiana; he spent several years with F. A. Wilhelm Construction before retiring in 1996; he went on to join HG Properties and built the Twin Bridges Golf Course in Danville, Indiana; later, he went on to manage the golf course at his alma mater, the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, James May and his family were actively involved with St. Susanna Catholic Church and the Plainfield Elks Club; and

WHEREAS, James May was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary; his son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Marlana May; his parents, Charles and Julia May; and his brothers, Charles, Robert and Richie May; and

WHEREAS, James May is survived by his sister, Mary Anne (Larry Gaylord); his sisters-in-law, Margaret and Maxine May; his son, Robert (America) May; his daughter, Linda (Jim) Rinehart; his son, Douglas (Rebecca) May; his daughter, Barbara (Alan) Toliver; his daughter, Patricia (Jeffery) Smeathers; and his son, Thomas May; his grandchildren, Stephanie (John) Marshall, Wyatt and Elliott May, Robert and Gloria May, James (Shannon) Rinehart, Darcy Rinehart, Mitch Rinehart, Ryan (Shawna) May, Stuart Toliver, Michelle Toliver, Anne (Glenn) Toliver-Pratt, Grant Toliver, Jason Smeathers, Andrew Smeathers, and Madison Smeathers; and his great-grandchildren, Matthew, Alyssa Isabella, Aleene, James, Emery, and Sarah; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James Clair May, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James May as an expression of our deepest sympathy.