Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 29–Assemblymen Price, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

May 4, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

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Read and Adopted

 

SUMMARY—Memorializes former Speaker of the Assembly Paul W. May, Jr. (BDR R‑810)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Memorializing former Speaker of the Assembly Paul W.May, Jr.

 

1-1     Whereas, The members of the Nevada Legislature note with profound

1-2  sorrow the passing of former Speaker of the Assembly Paul W. May, Jr.,

1-3  on November 14, 2000; and

1-4     Whereas, Paul W. May, Jr., was born on January 2, 1928, in the scenic

1-5  mountain community of Hot Springs, Virginia, and moved to North Las

1-6  Vegas in 1943; and

1-7     Whereas, After graduation from Las Vegas High School, Paul May

1-8  spent 3 years in the United States Army where he studied cryptography;

1-9  and

1-10     Whereas, Following his service in the military, Paul May built a career

1-11  as a real estate agent and broker and as a lobbyist for the City of North Las

1-12  Vegas; and

2-1     Whereas, Paul May was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1966

2-2  and represented District 19 until 1984, addressing crime, tax relief and

2-3  traffic as some of the major issues in Clark County; and

2-4     Whereas, As Speaker of the Assembly in 1979, Paul May was

2-5  responsible for a memorable moment at the end of the 1979 legislative

2-6  session when he put a towel over the clock so Assembly members would

2-7  not get paid for an extra day of per diem as the session moved past

2-8  midnight, resulting in legislative histories describing that as the year the

2-9  Assembly lasted 134 days and the Senate lasted 135 days, even though

2-10  they both ended at the same time; and

2-11     Whereas, Paul May chaired the Assembly Standing Committee on

2-12  Taxation for 6 of the 10 regular sessions he served, and while he was

2-13  Chairman in 1981, the Legislature approved the “tax shift” which lowered

2-14  property taxes and raised sales taxes in reaction to a similar move in

2-15  California, resulting in a reduction in Nevada’s property taxes to among the

2-16  lowest in the nation; and

2-17     Whereas, In 1986, Paul May was elected to his 10th and final term in

2-18  the Assembly, and, because of his expertise in tax matters, became known

2-19  as the “Father of Bullfrog County,” with his sponsorship of legislation in

2-20  1987 that was designed to obtain additional federal money for the State of

2-21  Nevada; and

2-22     Whereas, Paul’s commitment to his community is evidenced by his

2-23  sponsorship of successful legislation to locate the first campus of the

2-24  Community College of Southern Nevada in North Las Vegas and his

2-25  appointments to the Clark County Commission in 1984 and the North Las

2-26  Vegas City Council in 1985; and

2-27     Whereas, Paul was actively involved in his community through his

2-28  membership in numerous organizations, such as the Las Vegas Elks,

2-29  American Legion, North Las Vegas Township Democratic Club, the Air

2-30  Force Association and the Masons; and

2-31     Whereas, As a resident of Nevada for 57 years, Paul’s love for this

2-32  state, its past and present, led to his collection of Nevadiana and his fame

2-33  as a known authority on Nevada history, particularly some of its

2-34  fascinating, lesser-known details; and

2-35     Whereas, Often referred to as a genuine “Virginia Gentleman” by his

2-36  colleagues, Paul’s political leadership and character were noted by former

2-37  Governor Mike O’Callaghan who remembered him as a “low-key leader

2-38  who seldom, if ever, raised his voice” and “accomplished a great deal in

2-39  the Assembly by example”; and

2-40     Whereas, Paul W. May, Jr., is survived by a son, Paul W. May III, two

2-41  daughters, April Phillips of North Las Vegas and Sandra Torres of Texas,

2-42  and four grandchildren; now, therefore, be it

2-43     Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-44  Concurring, That the members of the 71st session of the Nevada

2-45  Legislature do hereby extend their sincere condolences to the family and

2-46  friends of former Speaker of the Assembly Paul W. May, Jr.; and be it

2-47  further

2-48     Resolved, That Paul W. May, Jr., will not only be remembered as an

2-49  Assemblyman who for 20 years displayed his dry wit and jovial nature, and

3-1  for his willingness to do the unusual to get the work done, but will also be

3-2  remembered as an elected official who dedicated his life to public service;

3-3  and be it further

3-4     Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

3-5  a copy of this resolution to the children of Paul W. May, Jr.

 

3-6  H