Dr. Kenneth May of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, died September 14. He was 84.
Dr. May earned a bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, both in poultry science at Louisiana State University. He earned Ph.D in food technology at Purdue University.. He served as assistant state poultry supervisor for the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture. He became an assistant professor in the departments of Food Science and Poultry Science at the University of Georgia in 1958, and over then next decade, progressed to the rank of associate professor and then full professor. In 1968, he joined the faculty of the Poultry Science Department at Mississippi State University as a full professor, where he served through May 1970.
In 1970, he joined Holly Farms Poultry Industries in Wilkesboro, North Carolina as director of research and quality assurance. He was instrumental to Holly Farms’ move to become the world’s first company to market branded fresh packaged chicken to be sold in retail stores. He was subsequently named vice president of research and quality assurance. And, in 1985, he was named president and chief executive officer of Holly Farms. He served on the National Chicken Council board of directors from 1982 to 1989.
Following his retirement from Holly Farms in 1989, he served as a consultant to the National Chicken Council until 2001. He also served as a board member and scientific advisor to Hudson Foods in Rogers, Arkansas, and served on the boards f the Alcide Corporation and Embrex, Inc.
During his career, he published over 60 scientific papers and won several research and industry-service awards. Among these were the Poultry Science Association Research award, the Georgia Egg Commission Egg Award, the Institute of American Poultry Industry Service Award, the Merial Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award, and the North Carolina Agribusiness Council Governor’s Award. He was elected to the American Poultry Historical Society National Hall of Fame in 1992.
He was proceeded in death by Patsy Jean Farr of Baton Rouges, Louisiana, his wife of 60 years. He was also proceeded in death by his daughter, his parents; two brothers, and three sisters. He is survive by his son Nathan Elliot May and wife Yasuko, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services are being held today in North Wilkesboro. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the SECU Family House, 1970 Baldin Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
