[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING COMMANDER ROBERT EDWARD MAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2013

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Commander 
Robert Edward May. Commander May passed away late last year at the age 
of 88. He served in the United States Navy for over 25 years and worked 
for another 25 years as an engineer in process control in Honeywell, 
part of Phoenix, Arizona.
   Mr. May had various interests from a young age. At 15, he was 
Rochester's 1939 Soap Box Derby Champ and flew his first solo airplane 
at the age of 16. At 20, he graduated from the US Naval Academy in 
three years, and his first orders were to be stationed on the Flagship 
USSN Nashville in the Pacific, surviving the largest naval battle in 
history. He witnessed a Kamikaze strike killing hundreds and injuring 
many more on Nashville's command center.
   After returning to the US for repairs on the Nashville, Mr. May 
married his sweetheart Ruth Schilitzer. Together, they had 10 children. 
During that time, he sailed as Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander 
aboard vessels in Key West. He then attended the Naval Postgraduate 
School before earning a Master's in Science from the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, writing a then classified dissertation on fire 
control for torpedoes in conjunction with the latest sonar.
   After finishing his post-doctorate work, Mr. May was assigned to one 
of the largest and most successful projects ever completed, the Polaris 
Project. The Polaris nuclear missile placed on submarines was the first 
submerged launch missile to use thrust vectoring and on-board telemetry 
to guide the missile, changing the course of warfare. Mr. May also 
aided in the development of the TALOS missile system, and worked in the 
submarine Anti-Submarine Warfare.
   After retiring from the Navy, Mr. May continued to do work for SAC 
and NELC through data control at Honeywell. While raising his 10 
children, he was active in his community, as an organizer and volunteer 
at church, scouts, little league, and blood drives.
   Mr. May's successes in the United States Navy and local communities 
across the country have strengthened our nation's Defense program. His 
dedication and passion to serve our country well will certainly be 
missed. I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to Commander 
May's family and friends as he will be laid to rest in Arlington 
National Cemetery in Virginia on April 23, 2013.
   Family members include: Bill & Marsha May, John Fredrick May, Joanne 
Mell, Ruth & Schuyler Hoffman IV, Martin Hoffman, Schuyler Hoffman V, 
Eileen May, Cynthia & Karl Ponath, Quentin Ponath, Jim & Sugene 
(McClain) May, James May, Collin May, Ashton May, Don & Connie May, 
Harrison May, Kenny May, John & Chris Ann (Hardin) May, Caroline May, 
Daniel May, Ray & Delores Schlitzer, Pete Schlitzer, Marta Schlitzer, 
Tom Schlitzer, Mary Ann (Schlitzer) & Tom Maszerowski, Walter May, 
Christopher and Cynthia May, Bill and Gail Schults.

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