W. Thad Gilliam
1934-2015
W. Thad Gilliam, beloved father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away on the 18th of August 2015, at the age of 80. Thad was born in Coleman, Texas on the 1st of September 1934, to Ray H. and Grace Wilson Gilliam. He learned much about the business world from his father, who owned the Coleman Hotel and the local airfield where Ray trained enlisted men to be military pilots. Thad learned to fly at an early age and shared his love of flying with his son Gregg.
When Thad was a teenager, the family moved to Waco where he and his brothers (Wyman, Robert and George) enjoyed many adventures at their lake-side home. When the property was sold due to the Lake Waco expansion, they moved to a home on Austin Avenue in the center of the “big city”, where Thad graduated from Waco High School in 1951.
Thad attended the University of Texas at Austin and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Always a loyal supporter to UT, he was thrilled to lend the family steer to the Texas Cowboys. One of Thad’s greatest joys was seeing “Hook’em” being named BEVO XI during the 1981-82 football season.
During summer break and after college, Thad spent much of his time in Beaumont where his dad was building the Castle Motel and Ridgewood Motor Hotel. There he not only learned a lot about the hotel and construction business, but also made many life-long friends.
On a visit back to Waco, Thad met Sue Lightner who would soon become his wife. They were married at Austin Avenue Methodist Church in 1958. Several years later they moved to Houston and began a family.
Thad started RHG Construction Company, named for his father, building retail centers anchored by Stop N Go and Pilgrim Cleaners. In the early 70’s the company was re-named Gilliam Properties, which became a successful commercial real estate company, developing and managing shopping centers, office buildings and office-warehouses in and around the Houston area. He was also a partner in many business endeavors such as Mason Road Bank, Fondren Southwest Bank, to name a few.
In the 1970’s, many fun times were spent at the family’s second home in Valley Lodge. It is here Thad and his family became members of the Valley Lodge Trail Ride Association, which ultimately led to his 45-year involvement with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Thad enjoyed being Trail Boss, riding into Houston every year to kick off the rodeo parade. Thad became a Lifetime Member of the Show in 1970 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1984. He was a member of the Steer Auction Committee and proudly served as their Chairman in 1988-1990. He was also a member of the International Committee from 1988 – 2008, traveling extensively with this group. Thad was a member of the “Cojer Parro Aribba” camp of the Tejas Vaqueros and enjoyed spending time in the canyon with his TV brothers.
In 1991 - 1993, Thad served as HLSR Vice President under his good friend and President Dick Graves. He made life-long friends with his fellow VPs, especially the six men who joined him in 1991 – fondly known as the “Sensational Six”. He was Officer-In-Charge of the Steer Auction, Breeding Poultry, Go Tejano, Range Bull & Commercial Heifer, and Sky Box Sales Committees. Thad was honored to be a Lifetime Vice President of the Show.
Thad was a bigger-thanlife figure, who enjoyed the outdoors. His many hobbies included hunting, golfing, fishing, skiing, riding motorcycles, and traveling with his family and many friends.
Thad will be loved and remembered always by his daughters Gretchen & Kristi, and his son Gregg, his grandchildren Coleman Clay Simmen and Caitlyn Grace Gilliam. Also sharing many fond memories of Thad is his cousin Dick Wilson and his wife Mary Ellen, Gretchen’s fiancé George Lane, Audrey & George Lane, and Adrienne Kurtz.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Village of Tanglewood, his wonderful caregivers Melba Gipson and Gwen Dinnon, and everyone who called and came by to see him during these past couple of weeks.
Thad would want us to recognize some very special friends: Bill Bailey, John Blackwell, Earl Ellis, Wayne McLemore, Ed McMahon, Jerry Stratton, members of the Steer Auction Committee, and Lifetime Vice Presidents of the HLSR. We know Pops is celebrating entering Heaven with his many friends at the Corral Club in the Sky.
Friends are cordially invited to visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock this evening, Sunday, the 23rd of August, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at four o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 24th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, where Pastor Michael Mellett, Music Minister at Lakewood Church is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent grand foyer.
Prior to the service the family will have gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in W. Thad Gilliam’s honor may be directed to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo c/o the Steer Auction Committee, P.O. 20070, Houston, TX, 77225-0070.