Dorothy Kelly Dillard

She grew up in New Gulf, Wharton County, Texas and graduated from Boling High School as Valedictorian in 1939. She received her B.A. degree in journalism from Baylor University in 1943. While at Baylor, Dorothy was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma (Atheneans) and the Golden Wave Marching Band.

She married Jack H. Dillard, also a Baylor graduate, on December 28, 1942. During World War II, Jack Dillard served in the FBI. The couple lived in numerous locations including Oklahoma City, Washington DC, New York City, San Antonio and McAllen, Texas. In 1947, the couple moved to Waco, Texas where Mr. Dillard became the Executive Director of the Baylor Alumni Association and the founder of the alumni magazine, The Baylor Line.

In 1954, the Dillard family moved to Austin, Texas when Jack became executive assistant to Governor Allan Shivers. In 1967, Dorothy Dillard began teaching in the Austin Independent School District. She taught English for many years, initially at Martin Junior High and later at Anderson High School, where she was chairman of the English Department. Dorothy loved teaching and diligently tried to help each of her students to improve.

Dorothy was an active member of Highland Park Baptist Church and member of the Faith Sunday School class. She and her husband Jack were avid Baylor Bear fans. They and their extended families were recognized as one of the “First Families of Baylor” and were lifetime members of the Baylor Alumni Association. Dorothy was also active in the Highland Park Gardeners and the Rotaryanns. Upon her retirement from teaching, Dorothy created “The Lunch Bunch”, a lunch club for former teachers who “never had time for lunch.”

Mrs. Dillard was preceded in death by her parents, William Henry Kelly and Ethel Patterson Kelly, her siblings, Willa Mae Kelly Carrier, G. Raymond Kelly, and Kenneth H. Kelly, and by her husband, Jack Hander Dillard.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren, Jack Kelly Dillard of Austin; Dorothy Diane Dillard, and husband Judge Andrew S. Hanen, and their daughter, Kelly Elizabeth Hanen, of Brownsville; and Donald Stanford Dillard, and wife Rebecca Patterson Dillard, and their sons, Philip Chase Prasek and Derek West Dillard, of Pflugerville.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday May 15, 2011 at 4:00 pm at Highland Park Baptist Church, Austin, with Dr. Marcus McFaul officiating. Mrs. Dillard is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas.

Mrs. Dillard’s children would like to thank the staffs at The Summit at Northwest Hills and Odyssey Hospice for the loving care of our mother.

Memorials may be made to the Baylor Alumni Association, One Bear Place #97116, Waco, Texas 76798 or to Highland Park Baptist Church, 5206 Balcones Drive, Austin, Texas 78731.