Willie May

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameWilliam Lee "Willie"•May
Used nameWillie•May
Born11 November 1936 in Knoxville, Alabama (USA)
Died28 March 2012
Measurements192 cm / 89 kg
AffiliationsUCTC, Chicago (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

As a senior at Indiana, Willie May placed second to Lee Calhoun at the 1960 Final Trials and it was Calhoun who again defeated May in the Olympic final. At the 1963 Pan American Games he also won silver, this time behind Blaine Lindgren. Although May never won a major title, he had an impressive record of fast clockings with a career best of 13.4. At the NCAAs, he placed third in 1958 and second in 1959 in the high hurdles, and at the AAU Championships, he was third in 1960, fourth in 1959, and sixth in 1958. May was world-ranked in the top 10 from 1958-60 and 1963, with a best ranking of second in 1960.

May later became a high school track coach and physical education teacher, and later athletic director (1983-99) at Evanston Township High School (Illinois). He was a member of the Indiana University Athletic Hall of Fame (2000), the Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2007) and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame (2010).

Personal Best: 110H – 13.4 (1960).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Willie May
110 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes