Alonzo Beryl May Papers

Born In 1906 at Joplin, Missouri, Alonso B. May earned his academic degrees at Kansas State Teachers College, the University of Kansas and the University of Iowa. Students at Graceland College in Iowa and Simmons College in Boston shared in his knowledge before he accepted his long term appointment at the University of Denver, Denver, Colorado. In World War II he served as Personnel Officer on the staff of the Commander of the 7th Amphibious Force in the Pacific and as an Instructor at the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Returning to Denver he continued his military affiliation by being instrumental in the formation of a Selective Service Reserve Unit and was retired as a Commander in 1966.

The 31 years of May’s service at the University of Denver included the chairmanship of the Department of Economics and the Division of Social Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of Economics and Statistics in the College of Business Administration. He was Coordinator of the Department of Transportation and most recently Head of the Division of Administrative Environment in the College of Business Administration. He directed the Teaching Institute of Economics, with seminars and a working library, supported through a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He participated in the founding of several Colorado financial institutions and served as a consultant and on boards of directors. Members of the University Senate honored him by his election as President, and he was chairman of several of their committees. His sincere social interests and enthusiasm were evidenced by memberships and participation in the University Park Methodist Church, Royal Economics Society of England, American Economic Association, American Institute of Management and the Denver County and Colorado State Republican Assemblies.

An avid reader of books and journals, ''Al'' delighted in quotations that stimulated thought and challenged both his colleagues and his students. On appropriate occasions he cited an author, ''Sarter Resertus,'' who was discovered to be a pen name for his wisdom that grew from varied experiences. A successful fisherman, he loved the few opportunities he had to work a stream or a lake with his colleagues.

These are only a few of the accomplishments and memories of a full life that we now formally recognize in a moment of silence at our closing faculty meeting. We record them in our minds and in a letter of sympathy to his beloved wife and companion, Beulah May. ''Al'' is gone from our sight but memories of happiness and success will endure.

[The tribute above was presented at the June 1968, meeting of the faculty of the University of Denver College of Business Administration.]

In Memoriam: Professor Alonzo Beryl May

The Faculty of the University of Denver College of Business Administration pauses at its June meeting to honor a deceased colleague, Alonzo Beryl May.