From swimming to hockey to softball, Bill May's athletic career has spanned more than 50 years as an athlete and coach.

Now it will last forever because the 1948 Butler graduate will be inducted into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame during the annual banquet April 24 at the Butler Days Inn.

"I didn't think this could ever happen," May said. "I really appreciate the people who remember me."

Now living in Wexford, May didn't begin his swimming career at Butler until his junior year, when John Mixer, the Golden Tornado's swim coach, encouraged him to come out for the squad.

"He saw me swim in physical education class and thought I had a pretty good stroke," May said. "I wound up swimming the breaststroke."

May finished third in the WPIAL section meet and was team captain his senior year. He never qualified for the state meet, but his career took off once he attended Grove City College.

Grove City's swim squad was not part of a league during those years, but May consistently scored well in dual meets for four years and eventually was inducted into the Grove City College Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame.

May went on to become a guidance counselor at North Allegheny High School for 35 years and was the diving coach there for 18 years.

He also taught swimming for 20 years at Ingomar Swim Club, as well as Hiland Country Club and Fox Chapel Country Club. He also worked with Special Olympics in Allegheny County from 1960-92.

"We had a big Special Olympics swimming program at North Allegheny and worked with 1,000 to 1,200 people, from age 4 on up," May said. "A lot of the kids worked with us, too. It was a wonderful program."

May got involved with hockey through annual trips to Canada.

"My grandfather had a place up there on a lake and I met a few Junior A hockey players over time," he said. "I began associating with them on a regular basis and built an interest in the sport.

"My kids wanted to play and there were two indoor and outdoor rinks near us. They were looking for people to coach," May added.

May began coaching a Squirt team for ages 7 to 14 and became good friends with Bob Awrey, the brother of former Boston Bruins defenseman Don Awrey, and Bill Watters, vice president of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

May wound up coaching North Allegheny's varsity hockey team from 1973-79.

"We had four teams in the North Allegheny hockey organization, and I was involved in all of them at some point," May said.

While he was coaching sports, May also officiated them. He served as a high school basketball official from 1957-72 and officiated high school and college football from 1957-75.

Now 73, May returned to athletics as a player 12 years ago when he joined a 35-and-over softball league in Canada. He remains an active player today.

"I'm not allowed to run too much," he said. "They let me play first base, where I don't have to move around a whole lot.

"I hit mostly singles, but I hit about .700 last year. I still swim, too," he added.

The next oldest player on May's softball team is 43.

May said he lives in Canada from May to October each year.

"It feels good to stay active," he said.