[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF MR. ROBERT L. DILLARD, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an 
outstanding citizen of the State of Texas, the late Robert L. Dillard, 
Jr. of Dallas, who died at the end of November, 2000. Mr. Dillard was 
an active and beloved member of his community--and he will be dearly 
missed.
  Robert was born on September 30, 1913, the son of an independent 
oilman. He followed in his father's footsteps as a young man working in 
the oil fields of Texas to finance his education. His hard work paid 
off when he received his law degree from Southern Methodist University 
in 1935 and an LL.M from Harvard in 1936. After receiving his degrees, 
Robert served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas from 
1941-1945. From 1945 until his retirement in 1978, he worked in an 
executive capacity for Southland Life Insurance Company of Dallas, 
retiring as Executive Vice President.
  Robert volunteered much of his time and talents to many civic 
endeavors. He served as president of the Board of Education of the 
Dallas Independent School District from 1961-1962, chairman of the 
Board of Trustees of Methodist Medical Center, chairman of the National 
Board of Directors of Camp Fire Girls, chairman of Region 10 Education 
Service Center, and a member of the Board of Directors at C.C. Young 
Retirement Home. He was also active in local and state government and 
in Highland Park United Methodist Church, where he served as a lay 
leader and a longtime Sunday School teacher.
  A special part of Robert's life, fifty-six years total, was devoted 
to membership in the Dallas Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was 
initiated in 1938 into Dallas Lodge No. 760 and held numerous 
leadership positions within the organization, including being a co-
founder of a new Lodge in Dallas, serving as president of the Board of 
Directors of the Masonic Home and School of Texas and vice-chairman of 
the Board of Trustees of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. In 
1953 he became a Thirty-Third Degree Inspectors General Honorary, in 
1961 was a Grand Master of Masons in Texas, and in 1977 served as the 
Venerable Master of the Dallas Lodge of Perfection. As the culmination 
of his lifetime of dedication to the Freemasons, in 1995 Robert became 
one of only eight men in Texas in the past one-hundred years to receive 
the highest honor the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite can bestow, 
the Grand Cross of Honor.
  Robert left behind a loving family, including his wonderful wife of 
63 years, Dundee, a son, two daughters, 13 grandchildren, and three 
great grandchildren. He was devoted to his family, his community and 
his Fraternity of Freemasons--and he leaves behind a legacy of 
dedication and service that will be remembered by many.
  Mr. Speaker, Robert was one of a kind--and we will miss him. As we 
adjourn today, let us do so in memory of a great American and friend, 
Mr. Robert L. Dillard, Jr.

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