January 15, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 8 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H555-H556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                         RECOGNIZING TOMMY MAY

  (Mr. HILL of Arkansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tommy 
May and his inspirational example of leadership throughout his life and 
courage in battling ALS.
  May served in Vietnam in the United States Marine Corps before 
returning home to the University of Arkansas and the Walton College to 
earn his degree in business. He would go on to establish a remarkable 
banking career, eventually becoming president and CEO of Simmons First 
National Bank in 1987.
  In 2005, May was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's 
disease, becoming one of about 20,000 people living with that disease 
in the United States. Although statistics show that the average 
survival time is only 3 years, May has survived far longer, continuing 
his leadership for more than a decade at Simmons First National Bank 
and at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
  Since his diagnosis, he has helped spearhead a new effort at UAMS to 
speed up research on the disease. He has been recognized for those 
efforts by the university. My friend's example of perseverance and 
courage in continuing to live his life on his own terms is one that all 
Americans and Arkansans can admire.

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