The ALS Association announced Thursday that J. Thomas “Tommy” May is one of four joining its national board of trustees.
The others are Keith Gary Ph.D., Dr. Clifton “Cliff” Gooch and Tobin “Toby” Kucharski.
May was diagnosed with ALS in 2005. The former Marine served in Vietnam from 1967-70. He returned home to finish his bachelor’s degree and then his master of business administration degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
His 50-year career in banking began in New Orleans and eventually led him to Pine Bluff, where he grew Simmons Bank from a statewide bank to a regional powerhouse. May is chairman of the Simmons First Foundation, and former chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corp.
He serves on the UA’s Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee, the UA Walton College of Business Dean’s Executive Advisory Board, the Arkansas Research Alliance Board and Arkansas Executive Forum board.
May previously served as chairman of the Arkansas Bankers Association and on the board for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He served on the UA’s Board of Trustees for 10 years, and as chairman from 2002-2003, as well.
He has also received the James E. Harris Nonprofit Leadership Award, Sidney M. Brooks Fellow Award, Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch Children’s Award, Arkansas Business Hall of Fame recognition, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chancellor’s Award, the UA’s Sam M. Walton College of Business Lifetime Achievement Award and the UA Chancellor’s Medal.
Earlier this year, May received the first Arkansas Business “Legacy of Leadership” award.
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