Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Dallas Morning News
December 21, 1989

Deceased Name: Ex-Collin commissioner Richard E. May dies at 49

Richard E. May, a former Collin County commissioner, died of cancer Wednesday 
morning at a Plano nursing home. He was 49.

A rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Harrington-Bratcher-Dickey 
Funeral Home in Plano. A funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Mark's 
Catholic Church in Plano. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at 
Ricks Funeral Home in Teague, Freestone County. Burial will follow at a 
cemetery in Coolidge, Limestone County.

A native of Teague, Mr. May attended public schools in his hometown. He earned
an electrical engineering degree from Texas A&M University in 1962.

After college, he worked as an off-shore engineer for Schoumberger Well 
Services in Larose, La. Several years later, he moved to Massachusetts, where
he sold computers for Digital Equipment Co.. During his four years with that 
company, he eventually became a branch manager.

In the early 1970s, he moved to Plano with his wife, Glenda May, and a few
years later was elected to the first of two terms as a Collin County 
commissioner. His last term ended in 1985.

While in office, Mr. May helped start the original Farmer's Market in Allen. 
He also was involved in the sale of the Collin County Hospital and efforts to 
direct funding for indigent care patients while he served on the commissioners
court.

He branded himself "the independent Republican voice' while on the 
commissioners court. His wife said he prided himself on "voting the issues, 
not the politics.'

Mr. May was a member of the Plano Republican Men's Club and the Lion's Club.

He is survived by his wife, Glenda May of Plano; two daughters, Kristi May and
Kimberly May, both of Plano; and one brother, Dr. Robert May of Corpus Christi.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.