‘Invincible spirit’ helps others: Auburn’s May honored

Tyler May has a heart of gold and an unshakable determination to help his fellow athletes. An "invincible spirit," is how U.S. Sen. Patty Murray described him. On center stage at The Seattle Westin Grand Ballroom in Seattle on Monday, the autistic, 17-year-old Auburn High School senior stepped confidently to the microphone to share that spirit with a large audience, which included special guest Dr. Jill Biden, the Second Lady of the United States.

Tyler May has a heart of gold and an unshakable determination to help his fellow athletes.

An “invincible spirit,” is how U.S. Sen. Patty Murray described him.

On center stage at The Seattle Westin Grand Ballroom in Seattle on Monday, the autistic, 17-year-old Auburn High School senior stepped confidently to the microphone to share that spirit with a large audience, which included special guest Dr. Jill Biden, the Second Lady of the United States.

“This goes out to every single Special Olympian in the state of Washington. This is to you. Thanks,” May said, hoisting the Golden Tennis Shoe Award.

May, known for his compassion and dedication to improve communities locally and throughout the state, humbly accepted the honor on behalf of 10,000 Special Olympic athletes and 6,000 volunteers from his state.

Also receiving Golden Tennis Shoe Awards were: Dr. Saul Rivkin, founder and chairman of the board for the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research; and Deborah Parker, vice chairman of the Tulalip Tribe, who took an active and prominent role in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

May’s remarkable story has been chronicled in these pages.

Growing up, May participated in sports and did well. But his hypersensitivity to noise, especially in crowd situations, led him to the peaceful links of golf, a game at which he immediately excelled.

Family, friends and teammates embraced him. Golf became his sanctuary.

“Every time he comes out to the golf course, it’s therapy for him,” said his father, Tom. “His therapy never stops.”

May has been involved with Special Olympics for two years, winning back-to-back gold medals in golf. He is the first autistic athlete to receive an MVP award on any athletic team at Auburn High.

A member of the Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Program, May speaks at community outreach and fundraising events on behalf of the organization. He recently took part in the Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day in Washington D.C., where he walked the halls of Congress and asked Washington State Congressional Representatives and Senators for their sponsorship of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act of 2013.

May also joined Murray to promote a bill that would reauthorize the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004 and provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and development of mentoring programs.

Murray, one of the country’s leading Democratic senators, was impressed by the teen’s demeanor during their talks in D.C.

“As a Special Olympian, Tyler believes that individuals with disabilities should have the opportunity to compete at the highest level of sport and be recognized for their efforts,” Murray said. “It is a belief he is willing to fight for.”

May refuses to let his disability define him, or others.

“(He’s) living proof that Special Olympics changes lives, living proof of what’s possible when parents are not willing to accept no for their kids,” Murray told the audience. “Living proof that a disability does not have to define who you are or what you can accomplish.”

May, who excels in math and science, hopes to pursue a career as a locomotive engineer.

Driven to succeed, he credits his success to the Special Olympics athlete’s oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”