NEWS

In a quiet corner of Lincoln Parish, 77-year-old Harry L. May is living proof that it’s never too late to chase a dream — or earn a Ph.D.

With a determination that mirrors his decades-long commitment to education, May remains focused and eager to learn. The 77-year-old retiree-turned-doctoral-student walked across the stage during Louisiana Tech University’s spring commencement, earning his Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in cyberspace, decades after he first walked it in 1977.

“I always wanted to get a Ph.D., but never had the time,” May said. “I have this innate desire to keep learning new things. If I have a slight interest, I tear into it.”

May’s academic journey spans nearly 50 years, all of it completed at Tech. After earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1977 and a master’s in engineering in 1979, he returned in 2009 for a graduate certificate in information assurance. His recent doctoral degree is the latest in a long list of accomplishments that embody Tech’s motto: Ever Loyal Be.

May’s college path started with a simple question and a bit of serendipity.

“At Fair Park High School, my coach, Clem Henderson, asked me where I was going to college. I answered, ‘What is college?'” May said. As it turns out, Henderson was the father of Louisiana Tech’s current president, Dr. Jim Henderson. “A few of my friends were going to Tech, so I said, ‘me too.'”

The journey wasn’t easy. “I liked the freedom at first, until math slapped me in the face,” he said. That jolt forced him to develop strong study habits, and once he did, his love for learning blossomed. “When I caught on, I couldn’t stop. Learning became a passion.”

That passion for growth didn’t stop at the classroom door. May served 39 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a colonel after a distinguished career stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. Along the way, he taught himself computer programming then received more formal training in grad school.

After completing his master’s degree, May began a 15-year career with AT&T, followed by 17 years at International Paper’s Mansfield Mill. Now retired from both the military and corporate world, he reflects on those years with pride and perspective.

“I’ve been all over the world — Germany, Belgium, Japan, Australia — but I always came back to learning,” he said.

Now living in Choudrant, LA with his wife of 47 years, Diana, May spends time with his two children and seven grandchildren, but he’s far from slowing down. He’s currently enrolled in summer courses and has a long wish list of subjects he’s excited to explore, including digital photography, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering.

“There’s so much out there to learn,” he said. “Why stop now?”

May has advice for today’s college students, and it comes from experience: “A lot of students come to have fun. I’d say to put more emphasis on learning,” he said. “Find a mentor, someone who can help guide you. There’s always someone willing to help.”

His other tip? Start a job search early. “Don’t wait until a month before graduation to start looking,” he said. “Opportunities are out there if you look from the beginning.”

While he’s now Dr. May in title, his journey is far from over. “This Ph.D. isn’t the end. It’s just the next step,” he said. “I’ll be learning until the day I die.”

And true to the Tech spirit, Harry May remains ever loyal; and more than ever, ever learning.