13 Feb 2006
Superintendent, Board President Say May Will Be Missed
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District Trustee Joe May passed away Friday evening at
11:28 p.m.
Board President Lois Parrott, who visited Baylor Hospital to comfort members of the May family, expressed her deep sadness over May's passing.
"Joe May will be deeply missed," Parrott said. "He cared so deeply for the children and was always doing so much for the district. That's what his whole life was about—fighting for people's rights. He was a dedicated and sincere person. Without him there will be a void on the board of trustees."
Superintendent Michael Hinojosa also conveyed his sadness and feelings on behalf of the district.
"Joe May was a respected member of the Dallas community and an advocate for schoolchildren across the city," Hinojosa said. "At this time of loss, our thoughts and prayers go out to the May family."
Further details about arrangements will be released when available.
Representing District 8, which encompasses Love Field, Northwest Dallas and Central Dallas, May was elected to the Board of Trustees in August 2002, and served on the Board's Policy and Education Committees. He was elected as second vice-president in May 2004.
May was a business opportunity specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he has been employed since 1980. His involvement with youth began with the Dallas County Community Action Agency in 1971, where he worked as a youth counselor for two years. From 1973 to 1980, May worked as an investigator for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
May's history of community service in the Dallas community includes two terms as president of the League of United Latin American Citizens and as board member of Operation SER-Jobs for Progress. He also served two terms as chairman of the Community Development Advisory Committee. May was elected vice chair of both the Citizen Charter Review Committee and the Human Resource Center. He was appointed to serve as a board member of the City Planning and Zoning Committee, the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee and the Redistricting Commission. May also served on the board of St. Ann's Charitable Trust and is a coordinator of the Combined Federal Campaign with the Small Business Administration.
May, 61, was born in Laredo, Texas. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served with the 4th Infantry and the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Following his military service, he attended East Texas State University where he received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees.