I never had the good fortune to meet or know Ted May, but I feel like I knew him a little based on the stories about him here on BRF and I certainly think I am poorer that I never had the opportunity to meet him in person and enjoy his company as the many who have posted here did. The same goes for those reading this that never had the opportunity to know Baldy.
I did have that opportunity to meet and get to know "Baldy", and Eileen and I both are better off for that unique experience. From his cooking skills, to all the hunts, both deer and quail we enjoyed together, and just the fun, interesting times we spent together from the very early 70's when I first had the opportunity to interact with him in the sport of boat racing, to the long phone calls continuing our friendship after he withdrew from the sport, I would be hard pressed to say I ever met a more interesting and fun person to be around. When Wayne called to tell me of his death, I felt like my own father had passed away.
He could be stubborn, and he was opinionated about the things he felt strongly about, both in and out of boat racing, but you could have strong disagreements with him about most anything, and when it was over, it was over, and there were no hard feelings if he respected you and conducted yourself in a way to deserve that respect. He did much for the sport of PRO Racing in the 70's and 80's, promoting out of his own pocket many World Championship races around the country, including several at the Dayton Hydrobowl that will probably never be exceeded in the number of foreign entries. In addition to that type of promotion of the sport, he promoted several National Championships and finished up one that had been blown out earlier by having the balance of the program at his place on Lake Corpus Christi.
He never shied from controversy, but he promoted and ran his boat races by the book, and everyone was treated the same. He was highly visible in his red, white, and blue uniform, and his large size made him even more so. Some disagreed with him and did not like him as a result, but if he was wrong about something, he was a "big enough man" to admit it, NO PUN INTENDED. You had to look a long time to find a mistake he made in the conduct of a boat race, IF EVER, for he knew his rule book, as many found out.
As Wayne gets further into the narrative, I will post a few "Baldy" stories that have to do with my interaction with him over those years. I know I provided him with a lot of amusement, primarily because of several stupid things I did that unfortunately he witnessed, and consequently I never heard the end of. It was all in fun, he was never mean spirited, and I really miss him since his passing. I look forward to this thread and am sure many of the rest of you will be interested and entertained by Wayne's story about him.
Bookmarks