Extracted from The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Wednesday, September 28, 1994

MAY, ROBERT ELLIOTT

Died 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, 1994, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was 83, a native of Franklin County, Miss., and a resident of Baton Rouge since 1966. He was a 1934 graduate of LSU and later received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from LSU. He was associated with education in Louisiana for more than 50 years. He taught and was athletic coach in Denham Springs (1932-33) and at Abbeville High School where he also served as principal (1935-42 and 1946-48). He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in France, the Netherlands and Germany, awarded the Bronze Star and rose to the rank of major. He was Louisiana State High School supervisor from 1948-50. He joined the faculty of the department of education at USL in 1950, where he was director of student teaching, the first dean of the graduate school and dean of the college of education. He was a professor of education at LSU from 1966-74, where he continued his interest in LSU sports as a member and chairman ofthe athletic council.

Visiting at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 9:30 a.m. until religious services at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, conducted by Father Jerry Martin. Entombment in Greenoaks Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Survived by wife, Renee David May, Baton Rouge; a daughter, Meredith Blackwell, Baton Rouge; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert E. Jr. and Enola Provost May, Lafayette; two granddaughters and grandsons-in-law, Elise B. and David Bajo, San Diego, Calif., and Melinda M. and Kevin Colomb, Baton Rouge; a grandson, Robert Elliott May III, Lafayette; two great-grandsons, Samuel Louis and Steven Elliott Colomb, both of Baton Rouge; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Myrtle and Farrell Roberts, Clinton, Helen and the late Marvin Waldrop and Willie and Richard Blystad, all of Denham Springs; a brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Patsy May, Wilmington, N.C.; many sisters and brothers-in-law of his wife's family; and nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents. Robert W. and Mary Carraway May; and a brother, Powell May.

He served as executive director of the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association from 1974-76 and was later president of L.R.T.A. and a board member of the organization's foundation. He participated in several sports at LSU, lettered three years in boxing and was a founding member of the "L" Club. He was a member of various civic, professional and academic organizations, including the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, Military Order of World Wars, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, N.R.T.A. and L.R.T.A.

In lieu of flowers, family requests memorial donations be made to Foundation of the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, 9412 Common St., Baton Rouge, 70809. Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., in charge of arrangements.