- May 1 Brian Glencross, Australian field hockey defender (93 caps; Olympic bronze 1964, silver 1968) and coach (Australia women Olympic gold 1988; Champions Trophy 1989, 91), born in Narrogin, Australia (d. 2022)
- May 2 Clay Carroll, American baseball player, born in Clanton, Alabama
- May 3 Nona Gaprindashvili, Georgian world women's chess champ (1962-78), born in Zugdidi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
- May 5 Alexander Ragulin, Russian ice hockey player (Olympic gold 1964, 68, 72), born in Moscow (d. 2004)
- May 5 Terry Baker, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Heisman Trophy 1962, Oregon State), born in Pine River, Minnesota
- May 6 Ivan Osim, Bosnian soccer midfielder (19 caps Yugoslavia; FK Željezničar, RC Strasbourg, CS Sedan) and manager (Yugoslavia, Sturm Graz, Japan), born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina (d. 2022)
- May 7 Grahame Bilby, New Zealand cricketer (two Tests NZ v England 1966), born in Wellington, New Zealand
- May 9 Dorothy Hyman, English athlete (Olympic silver 100m, bronze 200m 1960; bronze 4×100m relay 1964), born in Cudworth, England
- May 9 Howard Komives, American NBA star (NY Knicks, Buffalo Braves), born in Toledo, Ohio (d. 2009)
- May 10 Ken Berry [Allen Kent Berry], American baseball player (White Sox, Angels, Brewers, Indians), born in Kansas City, Missouri
- May 10 Ken Kennedy, Irish rugby union hooker (45 Tests Ireland, 4 British & Irish Lions; London Irish RFC), born in Rochester, England (d. 2022)
- May 11 Graham Miles, English snooker player (World C'ship 1974 runner-up; Pot Black 1974, 75), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2014)
- May 11 Ian Redpath, Australian cricket batsman (66 Tests, 8 x 100, HS 171; Victoria), born in Geelong, Australia
- May 14 Nasim-ul-Ghani, cricketer (Pakistani left-handed all-rounder 1958-73)
- May 15 Cyril Cooray, cricketer (Sri Lankan Test umpire on intl panel)
- May 21 Bobby Cox, American Baseball HOF manager (World Series 1977 [coach NY Yankees], 1995 Atlanta Braves; 4 × Manager of the Year; Toronto Blue Jays), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- May 22 Martha Langbein, German athlete (Olympic silver 1960), born in Heidelberg, Germany
- May 29 Pepi Bader, German bobsledder (World C'ship gold 2-man 1970; Olympic silver 1968, 72), born in Grainau, Germany (d. 2021)
- May 31 Gil Morgan, American golfer (Senior Players C'ship 1998, The Tradition 1997, 98), born in Wewoka, Oklahoma
- May 31 Wolfgang Fahrian, German soccer goalkeeper (10 caps DRG; SC Fortuna Köln), born in Blaustein, Germany (d. 2022)
About May 1941
How Old? 82 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions