Dallas Leon (Dally) Willis passed away Saturday, October 7, 2017 in Midland, Texas. The family will be accepting guests from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral Services are at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Westside Church of Christ with interment to follow atContinue Reading
Dallas Leon (Dally) Willis passed away Saturday, October 7, 2017 in Midland, Texas. The family will be accepting guests from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral Services are at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Westside Church of Christ with interment to follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.Dallas was born on May 21, 1920 in Dallas, Texas to Eunice Williams Willis and John Albert Willis. He graduated from Cleburne High School and joined the United States Marine Corps on October 6, 1941.While serving with Unit VMD 154, his duties included, Tail Gunner on B-24’s and Photographic Specialist helping map the South Pacific. He reached the rank of Master Technical Sargent before his honorable discharge on November 13, 1945. After his military service he worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (AT&T). While working there he joined the Communication Workers of America and worked for the TPLC. During that time he was the organizer of the Labor Day Celebration held in Odessa, Texas yearly. He served as the president of the Permian Basin of West Texas Central Labor Union. In 1967 he became the legislative lobbyist for the political and legislative Committee of the CWA. As a lobbyist he was instrumental in the passage of every significant piece of telecommunications legislation during his time, including the “Live Operator Bill”. In a resolution by the Texas Senate, he was called the Dean of Texas Lobbyist and his inexhaustible energy and cheerful disposition was legendary among his colleagues. He was noted as being one of the most beloved figures to ever walk the halls of the capitol of Texas. He retired in 2008, and was selected to the Texas AFL-CIO Labor Hall of Fame in 2015.On May 12, 1950, he married Julia Margaret Bonner who became his beloved wife for 67 years. He was a member of Westside Church of Christ. Dallas was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, who was deeply respected, and loved, by all who knew his always smiling face. He will be fondly remembered by a slogan he used while lobbying and in life “Be nice, be nice, be nice.”Dallas and Margaret were blessed with three sons, and was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, George Willis, John Willis, and Aubrey Willis, his sisters, Betty Lou Willis, Mamie Willis and Addie Richter, and his son, Bruce Willis.He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret; his daughter-in-law, Debi Willis; son, Roger Willis and wife Dede; and son, Steven Willis; 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.The family would like to express their gratitude to the Westside Church of Christ, all other churches, family, and friends who offered prayers, help and their time to our family.A special thanks to Dr. Raj Patel, Dr. Michael Dragun, and the care givers of Desert Gardens, Hogan Park Nursing Facility, Hospice of Midland, and especially Kellie Craft of Tulsa, Oklahoma.In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Midland or Westside Church of Christ,
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