Luther Lattimore "Lou" Hillman

Luther Lattimore Hillman, 80, passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2018.
Memorial Service: 2:00 PM Saturday, February 10th at First United Methodist Church of Grapevine with Rev. J. Melburn Sibley and Rev. Allen C. Liles officiating.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to Grapevine Rotary Club ( www.grapevinerotary.com ) or Grace Classical Christian Academy ( www.graceclassical.com ).
Lou was born July 7, 1937 in Leakey, Texas to the late John R. and Erna Hillman. He was raised in Galveston and graduated from Ball High School in 1955 and Baylor University in 1959. After graduation, he served in the Texas Air National Guard from 1960-1961. His career began in 1961 in Houston with Dun and Bradstreet. In 1963, he was Chamber of Commerce General Manager for Trinity, Texas.
Lou was a member of the Employee Relocation Council (ERC) since 1977, a Charter Member of Grapevine Rotary Club, First paid staff member of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, serving as Manager from 1964-1967 and later as Chairman of the Board from 1977 to 1978. He was the First CEO of Northwest Dallas Chamber of Commerce, a President of Northeast Tarrant County Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors board of Directors, and the North Texas Real Estate Commission Board of Directors. He led cities of Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Coppell to become some of the most prosperous suburban cities in th entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Lou served Grapevine as one of the pioneer members of DFW International Airport development team, worked with Ernest Dean of Tippets-Abbet-McCarthy-Stratton as original designers of DFW International Airport project, was appointed by Young & Rubicam to direct marketing and advertising for Chrystler-Plymouth throughout the State of Texas, was present at the initial meeting with Robert Crandall and Tom Plaskett in the relocation of American Airlines headquarters from New York to Dallas-Fort Worth, was involved in the development of Heritage Business Park (the largest business park in Grapevine and Southlake), was one of the first business leaders working on the location of Gaylord Texas Resort & Convention Center in the City of Grapevine, and was actively involved with numerous international business development ventures.
In 1972, Lou embarked on a career in commercial and residential real estate, opening Lou Hillman Red Carpet Realtors in Grapevine. For over 45 years, he served as owner and general manager of the brokerage which in 2014 became Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Lou Hillman, realtors.
Lou loved traveling the world with Aimee his beloved companion of 33 years, fishing, photography, and spending time in the Texas Hill Country and Galveston. He loved people, made strangers into friends, and told good stories. Above all, Lou loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors: Son, Crae Hillman and wife Judy; daughter, Anne Thomas and husband Ryan; grandchildren, Rebecca Hillman, Hannah Chase and husband Eric, Pierce Thomas, Henry Thomas, and Benjamin Thomas; beloved companion, Aimee Jacobie; Sister, Jeanette Thompson, and a host of friends, colleagues, and extended family members.