Dan May didn’t start out to be a cowboy. His early life in Moultrie, GA didn’t indicate that he had a future in the sport of rodeo. He enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1969 and served 21 years as an Aviation Mechanic working on helicopters at various stations around the globe. Though he traveled a great deal in his career, most of his military years were spent at New River Naval Air Station, NC.
During a tour at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, CA in 1980 he was introduced to military rodeo and joined the rodeo team competing in Bull Riding for the next 5 years. Dan traveled with the rodeo team competing in many events throughout the west and as captain of the Tustin Rodeo Team won the military team championship in 1984.. He returned to New River in 1986 and began the process of building a rodeo team from scratch. This new team led by Dan helped produce the first military rodeo in Princeton, NC during 1988. Dan served as president of the rodeo team 1986-1990 while still competing as a Bull Rider. His work with the New River Rodeo Team resulted in him earning a Navy Achievement Medal in 1986.
MSgt May retired from the Marine Corps in 1990 and he worked as a Service Consultant for multiple General Motors Dealerships in the Princeton, NC area. He was also active with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post.
Born: 1950 in Moultrie, GA Died: 2017 in Princeton, NC
