Robert L. May ,

Robert Lewis May (1905-1976) was an American copywriter and author best known for creating the character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1939 as an advertising editor for Montgomery Ward department stores. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1926, later managed Rudolph's marketing through his own company starting in 1951, and returned to Montgomery Ward as editorial director until his retirement in 1970.