Class of 2007

Jim May Stallions' Goalie and Blizzard Administrator

The game of soccer hardly registered a blip on the Western New York Richter scale of sports ..until Jim May elevated its stature, first as a player and then as a promoter. A junior college soccer All American in 1972, May would move on to SUNY Brockport where he would play for the 4th ranked Division I team in the nation and earn Division I Collegiate All American status as a goalkeeper. He was drafted 1st overall by the Rochester Lancers of the North American Soccer League and competed against the legendary Pele in the NASL. May was a fixture in goal in the NASL and was named an All Star goalkeeper.

In 1979, May was the first player signed by the newly formed Buffalo Stallions. The Buffalo area soon became goal-oriented toward the game of soccer and Jim May, an All Star selection in 1981, was its leader. While the Stallions would eventually fold, Jim May was instrumental in returning the game to Western New York with the Buffalo Blizzard, serving as Vice President and General Manager from 1992 to 1999, often wearing a third hat as interim coach during his tenure with the Blizzard.

Jim May was elected to the Junior College Hall of Fame, the SUNY Brockport Sports Hall of Fame, and was voted 2nd team, All-Time Rochester Lancers. He owns and operates SportsPlex, an indoor soccer and tennis facility in North Tonawanda. Due in part to Jim's untiring efforts in introducing kids to the sport of soccer and giving them a place to play, soccer is Number One in Western New York for youth sports participation with more than 100,000 area kids playing soccer.