WILLIE MAY S ETHS HIGHLIGHTS - PDF Free Download

WILLIE MAY PRESENTATION TO THE EVANSTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL (ETHS) BOARD FOR NAMING THE ETHS FIELDHOUSE IN HONOR OF WILLIE MAY IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE 2016

PROPOSAL In recognition of his many accomplishments and unparalleled service to Evanston Township High School, the ETHS Fieldhouse should be named in honor of Willie May.

WILLIE MAY S ETHS HIGHLIGHTS 45 years as Track & Field Coach 16 years as Athletic Director 26 consecutive Central Suburban League Titles as Head Coach 5 IHSA State Trophies as Head Coach, including a State Championship in 1979

SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL Coach May served the students of ETHS since the late 1960 s as the long-time ETHS Athletic Director, Physical Education Teacher and Head Coach of Boys Track & Field. Even after his retirement as Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher in 2000 and Head Coach of Boys Track & Field in 2006, Coach May continued as an Assistant Coach for Boys until his death.

PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Born in Alabama in 1936, Willie May burst onto the Illinois Track & Field scene in 1955 as he led Blue Island High School to an Illinois State Championship while personally collecting three gold medals in the 120-yard high hurdles, 180-yard low hurdles and 880-yard relay. Willie May went on to Indiana University where he won seven Big Ten Championship titles in the hurdles between 1957-1959.

In 1960, at the Olympic Games in Rome, Willie May won the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles. After earning another silver medal at the 1963 Pan American Games, Coach May began his teaching and coaching career at ETHS in 1967.

Coach May served as an Assistant Coach to his former Blue Island teammate, Ron Helberg, winning four IHSA State Championships in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974. After taking over as Head Coach in 1975, Coach May led the Wildkits to twenty-six CSL Conference Championships which included a run of 24 consecutive titles between 1976-1999. Coach May also guided ETHS to five IHSA State Trophies including the State Championship in 1979 and developed over 50 medalists during his tenure as Head Coach.

In addition to his accomplishments in track & field, Coach May was an exceptional football coach. As an Assistant and Head Coach on the Freshmen and Sophomore levels, Coach May consistently produced the best squads in the conference. Great coaches help their athletes reach their full potential, Coach May helped athletes excel beyond their potential. In 1983, Willie May was hired as Evanston s Athletic Director, a post he retained for the next sixteen years while continuing to teach Physical Education. As Athletic Director, he hired coaches that have continued the commitment to excellence that he embraced. Willie May was truly an ambassador for ETHS.

Coach Willie May was more than a Hall of Fame coach, Athletic Director and Olympic Champion. He was a mentor and role model to thousands of student athletes and countless coaches. He never accepted excuses or lack of effort. It is said that a great coach can take his and beat yours or take yours and beat his. Coach May exemplified this in many ways because he made his athletes perform at a higher level than they imagined was possible.

Coach May expected the best from his athletes and pushed them to succeed. He led by example and required his athletes to carry themselves with dignity, integrity and confidence. Any athlete who showed a lack of sportsmanship or effort was provided ample therapy which usually meant inspecting the fence surrounding the athletic fields as he ran until Coach May got tired. His athletes were always held accountable for their actions.

Coach May taught individual responsibility, sportsmanship, hard work and a commitment to excellence as a requirement to achieve anything. These life lessons were instilled so successfully that most of his athletes relied on them as they became adults and tried to instill these ideals to their own children. Decades later, Coach May s former athletes continue to view Coach May as having had a tremendous positive impact on their lives.

AWARDS Coach May has been inducted into 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) as well as being named the Greatest Athlete in the history of Blue Island High School.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT STUDENT ATHLETES, COLLEAGUES, PARENTS OF STUDENT ATHLETES, EVANSTON S BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND HIS FAMILY HAVE ALL COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE LEGACY OF WILLIE MAY.

STUDENT ATHLETES

COLLEAGUES

PARENTS OF STUDENT ATHLETES

BUSINESS COMMUNITY

FAMILY

For all of the reasons stated and the letters in support, the ETHS family should recognize Willie May and honor his service and commitment by naming the ETHS Fieldhouse after him. This will ensure that his legacy is recognized and will continue for generations to come.

THANK YOU!