Dr. Floyd R. Mays, Jr., 88, of Big Spring, died on Thursday, April 8, 2004, in a local hospital. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, April 10, 2004 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel with Rev. Dennis Teeters, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating.He was born on December 20, 1915 in Greenville, Mississippi to Fannie McClain Mays and Mr. F. R. Mays, then a trainmaster, eventually becoming Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Illinois Central Railway System. The family moved often up and down the railroad, and in 1929 to Chicago, never establishing a real hometown.Dr. Mays graduated from Hyde Park Public High School in 1934, Washington and Lee University in 1938, where he lettered in both golf and swimming, and then entered Medical School at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a fourth year medical student at the time of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He volunteered and was commissioned a Lieutenant (JG) Medical Corps USN. Called to active duty upon graduation, he was sent first to Norfolk Naval Hospital for a year of Surgical training, then assigned as Surgeon 3rd Battalion 29th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He served in active combat on Guadalcanal, Guam, and Okinawa and for six months with the occupying force in Tsingtao, North China. There he was promoted to Regimental Surgeon and to full Lieutenant. On Okinawa, his battalion was often heavily engaged and distinguished itself by receiving two Presidential Unit Citations. Dr. Mays was awarded a Silver Star by the Marine Corps for Gallantry in Action and is entitled to Campaign ribbons for the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Presidential Unit Citations (two), Chinese Occupation, Combat Infantry ribbon, and World War II Victory. He declined to issue Purple Hearts to himself for three minor wounds.On his return from China in March of 1946, he resigned his commission and returned to New Orleans to continue his residency. In August of 1947, he married Pauline (Polly) M. Schultz, a Bachelor of Science graduate of the University of Kansas and a fellow Naval Officer. After finishing his residency in 1948, he and Pauline spent seven weeks driving over 4000 miles deciding where to live. They loved West Texas and settled in Big Spring, where he spent over 30 years in private practice of OBGYN in a perfect association with Drs. Nell and Virgil Sanders. Big Spring became his hometown.As time permitted, he was active in community affairs. He was a long time board member and past president of the ABC Club; a vice-president and often acting president of the Big Spring School Board, during which time he was sent to Dallas to negotiate with Mr. Moss on the site of Moss Elementary School; a 22 year board member of the Big Spring YMCA, where he taught CPR, life saving, and scuba diving for 22 years. While a YMCA board member, he originated and made the first contribution to the YMCA Endowment Commission on whose board he served for 30 years. He is a life member of the Texas State Rifle Association and also the NRA. He was also designated a Five Star General resulting from multiple contributions to his alma mater, Washington and Lee University.He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 50 years, Polly. He is survived by two children, Cathy of Big Spring and Doug of Whitney and two grandchildren, Jessica and Trey Tipton of Big Spring.He has chosen cremation rather than burial and favors the Big Spring Humane Society, P. O. Box 823, Big Spring, Texas 79721-0823, for memorials.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
