In 1939, as a copywriter for the Montgomery Ward department store
chain, he wrote the story "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" as a
promotional booklet. It was illustrated by Denver Gillen, a friend from
Montgomery Ward's art department.
Brother-in-law of composer Johnny Marks, who wrote the song, "Rudolph,
the Red-Nosed Reindeer," based upon May's original story.