William Tillery

William Robert Tillery, Jr. was born November 29, 1929 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He died April 13, 2012 in Birmingham. He was educated in the Tuscaloosa City School System. After 2 years service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War he enrolled at the University of Alabama in 1953 as a Freshman. In 1956 upon graduation with a degree in Marketing, Mr. Tillery was employed by Nifty Manufacturing Company as Assistant Sales Promotion Manager. While with Nifty he was a founder and charter member of the Birmingham Chapter of the American Marketing Association. In 1962 Mr. Tillery became Manager of Membership Services for the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce. He retired from the Chamber at the end of 1994 as Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary. He served frequently on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Alabama, and in 1977 was elected it's President. He graduated with honors from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management-University of Georgia and the American Economic Development Institute-University of Oklahoma. He was one of the founding members of the Economic Development Association of Alabama. Mr. Tillery served on the Vestry of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, as a director of the Birmingham Area Private Industry Council, as a member of the City of Birmingham Transportation Review Board, as a member of the Senior Executive Service Corps and as a member of the Education Council of the Birmingham Museum of Art where he was also a Docent. He is survived by his beloved wife Janet Dunn Tillery formerly of St. Petersburg, FL, an outstanding artist who's career he proudly supported. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday April 18, at 11am at Jefferson Memorial Gardens East. Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.