H.R. No. 262
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The recent passing of Charlie L. Hillard on February
1-2 13, 1995, at the age of 88, has brought great sadness to the many
1-3 friends, relatives, and colleagues of this legendary Fort Worth
1-4 businessman and civic leader; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Oakview Farm, a small farming community
1-6 near Jackson, Tennessee, he was one of 12 children born to Mary
1-7 Elizabeth and E. V. Hillard and was graduated valedictorian of his
1-8 class from the two-room country schoolhouse where he earned his
1-9 education; and
1-10 WHEREAS, An enterprising young man from an early age, he
1-11 earned $25 from his father one day by wagering that he could pick
1-12 210 pounds of cotton before lunch and promised if he earned the
1-13 money, he would go to Fort Worth that same day to find employment;
1-14 true to his word, he achieved his goal and caught a westbound train
1-15 that night to seek his fortune in Texas; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Arriving in Fort Worth on September 1, 1925,
1-17 Mr. Hillard parlayed his enthusiasm, business acumen, and his
1-18 remaining $1.25 into a highly successful automotive sales career
1-19 that would span nearly 70 years and earn him the nickname of "King
1-20 Charlie" throughout the Fort Worth community; and
1-21 WHEREAS, His remarkable career began modestly with a job as a
1-22 porter for his cousin, J. B. Jordan, who owned a used car lot in
1-23 Fort Worth; Mr. Hillard quickly displayed a natural talent for
1-24 selling cars and within six months he had become half owner of the
2-1 dealership, which was renamed the Jordan-Hillard Motor Company; and
2-2 WHEREAS, From 1930 to 1937, Mr. Hillard sold cars for Cook
2-3 Melton Ford where he overcame the economic challenges of that era
2-4 to become a top salesman; it was during this same period of his
2-5 life that he recognized an important personal milestone with his
2-6 marriage to the former Mary Jane Roberts, beginning a loving
2-7 61-year partnership; and
2-8 WHEREAS, In the years that followed, this self-made man rose
2-9 to prominence in his field, earning a well-deserved reputation
2-10 among his peers in the local auto industry as a scrupulously honest
2-11 and fair businessman; with the purchase of his first Ford
2-12 dealership, Mr. Hillard prospered as an entrepreneur and continued
2-13 to build on his previous accomplishments with the establishment of
2-14 Charlie Hillard Ford in 1959; and
2-15 WHEREAS, This successful venture was the forerunner of
2-16 Hillard Auto Park, a 22-acre complex that specialized in American
2-17 and foreign car sales, which Mr. Hillard presided over as chairman
2-18 of the board until the time of his passing; and
2-19 WHEREAS, Mr. Hillard founded or organized a number of leading
2-20 institutions in the community, including the Fort Worth Jaycees,
2-21 the West Side State Bank--now the Bank of Fort Worth, the Fort
2-22 Worth Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Fort Worth Air Power
2-23 Council; active in his support of the scouting movement as well, he
2-24 played a key role in the building of Camp Timberlake at Eagle
2-25 Mountain Lake in 1946; and
2-26 WHEREAS, He also shared his time and resources with a wealth
2-27 of other worthy local organizations such as the Cook-Fort Worth
3-1 Children's Medical Center, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, and
3-2 the Rotary Club of Fort Worth; Mr. Hillard was a longtime trustee
3-3 of Texas Wesleyan University, which awarded him an honorary
3-4 doctorate in 1978, and was a respected leader in the First United
3-5 Methodist Church of Fort Worth, where he was a 63-year member of
3-6 the congregation and served on the board of stewards and as a
3-7 finance committee member; and
3-8 WHEREAS, In his spare moments, Mr. Hillard was an avid
3-9 organic gardener who grew an abundant crop of vegetables each year
3-10 from seeds germinated in his greenhouse; he was renowned for
3-11 sharing his fresh vegetables with the needy, as well as his friends
3-12 and customers, who often found his vegetables waiting for them on
3-13 their doorstep with their morning newspaper; and
3-14 WHEREAS, Charlie L. Hillard was an extraordinary businessman
3-15 and citizen who was beloved by his community for his kindness,
3-16 generosity, and honesty; though his presence is gone from us now,
3-17 his spirit will long endure in the legacy of achievements he leaves
3-18 behind; now, therefore, be it
3-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-20 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Charlie L. Hillard
3-21 and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his
3-22 wife, Mary Jane Hillard of Fort Worth; to his son, Charlie R.
3-23 Hillard of Fort Worth; to his daughter, Shirley Hillard of Los
3-24 Angeles, California; to his brothers, Jenkins Hillard of De Funiak
3-25 Springs, Florida, and Irving Hillard of Nashville, Tennessee; to
3-26 his sister, Mary Vivian Thompson of De Funiak Springs; to his six
3-27 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and to the many other
4-1 friends and relatives of this fine man; and, be it further
4-2 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-3 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
4-4 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
4-5 Charlie L. Hillard.