Richard L. “Dick” May, age 79 died January, 12 2009. Dick was a lifelong enthusiast of aviation who was committed its promotion wherever he went. He caught the bug for flying as a young man looking up to his older brother, a Naval Aviator. Richard followed his brother’s footsteps and joined the Navy as well. He served as a flight engineer on PBY’s and an aircraft mechanic on the USS Kearsarge. After the Navy a family business drew him away from an aviation career but his enthusiasm continued. He was quite proud of his four digit EAA number and 42 years of service on the Airport authority at the Butler County Airport (KBTP). Richard was involved in many organizations in the local community, the Boy Scouts of America, the Butler County Historical Society, Penn Township Veterans Association and the Butler County Bicentennial committee to name a few. These activities became a vehicle for his promotion of aviation. Weather it was field trips to the airport with the Boy Scouts or his comprehensive collection of photographs, newspaper articles and periodicals cataloguing Butlers place in Aviation history, he was truly one of Butler’s aviation ambassadors. Customers and friends who came into the music store would either find him repairing instruments or building airplane models, he has built tens of thousands over the years. An invitation to his workshop would spark a story session or a look at countless photo albums from his trips to Oshkosh or other airshows around the country. Of course one of the best vantage points for the aviation enthusiast was the front porch of his home on Airport Road in Butler where he shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for aviation with family and friends. These moments planted seeds that grew to hobbies and careers in aviation for many.