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m. 1 Sep 1920 - Thomas Roadman May1921 - 1972
Facts and Events
About Thomas R. May
Thomas Roadman "Tom" May was born 13 June 1921 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, the son of Lafayette Rodger May (1870-1940) and Elizabeth Shipley (b. abt. 1885) both Tennessee natives. He was no-doubt named after his grandfather, Thomas May (1828-1874) and his great-grandmother, Lelia Roadman (1853-1926).
Tom grew up and attended school in Knoxville and married Mary Martha "Honey" Smith, the daughter of Robert Ashford Smith (1893-1979) and Willie Rebekah Dickey (1894-1967) of Knoxville, Tennessee. Thomas graduated from the University of Tennessee and also attended Georgia Tech University. He began his aerospace career with Fairchild Engine and Airplane Company and prior to 1962 had joined Lockheed-Georgia Corporation, based in Marietta, Georgia, and was in charge of the successful C-130 "Hercules" Transport, which is now the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. In 1965 was the Vice President and Program Manager for the beleaguered C-5A Galaxy Transport Aircraft, which was plagued with design flaws and cost over-runs during its early years of design and production. Tom was promoted to President of Lockheed's Georgia "Southern Star" Division from 1967 to 1970, and was one of the key figures at Lockheed that had to deal with the process of attempting to please the military establishment who oversaw the C-5A program and still make a profit for Lockheed, then a daunting task considering the razor-thin margins then afforded aerospace companies bidding on government contracts. Lockheed nearly collapsed due to the financial strains associated with the C-5A project, but was saved when the government guaranteed Lockheed's loans to stay in business, saving the project and Lockheed's future in the process. The C-5A, after several substantial re-designs and production modifications, went on to become one of the military's most useful military transport aircraft serving most recently in the Gulf War, has been a key logistical component of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is still in service today. Tom May resigned from Lockheed in 1970 to form his own real estate development company.
Tom May was known as a good family man and successful businessman. He died of a suspected heart attack while driving his car, which appears to have caused a tragic car crash against a bridge abutment while driving in Atlanta, Georgia on 22 March 1972. Tom May was just 50 years old at the time of his early death. He left his widow Mary Martha "Honey" and four sons; Tim, Tom, Terry and Jeff.
Image Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Find A Grave.
- Georgia. Department of Health and Vital Statistics (Atlanta, Georgia). Death index, 1919-1999. (Atlanta [Georgia]: Georgia. Department of Health and Vital Statistics, 199-?).
Name: Thomas R May
Death Date: 22 Mar 1972
County of Death: Fulton
Gender: M (Male)
Race: White
Age: 50 Years
County of Residence: Fulton
Certificate: 012595
- ↑ United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).
Name: Thomas R May
Birth Year: abt 1922
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee
Street address: East Scott Ave
Ward of City: part 11
House Number in Cities or Towns: 136
Dwelling Number: 248
Family Number: 282
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household Members: Name Age
L Roger May 56
Elizabeth May 45
Margaret M May 20
[23]
L Ruth May 19
L Roger May 15
Edith G May 12
Thomas R May 8
Lillian Shipley 28
- United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
Name: Thomas R May
Age: 18
Estimated birth year: abt 1922
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Nephew
Home in 1940: Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee
Street: Branson
Inferred Residence in 1935: Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee
Residence in 1935: Same Place, Knox
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 16B
Attended School or College: Yes
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
Weeks Worked in 1939: 13
Income: 208
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Name Age
William P Shipley 46
Eileen R Shipley 42
Bessie S May 52
Thomas R May 18
Hannah J Russell 15
- ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).
Name: Thomas May
SSN: 408-18-9727
BORN: 13 Jun 1921
Died: Mar 1972
State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951)
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