Aggie Ring repairs and resizing via The Association temporarily paused. See full details
Roll Call Tribute
Dan Hilliard '54 February 9, 2011 9:41 AM
Published in Tyler Morning Telegraph on February 9, 2011
Dr. Dan Hilliard
Services for Dr. Dan Hilliard will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Canton with the Rev. Dr. Gary Hearon officiating. Visitation will be held at Hilliard Funeral Home in Van on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
He died Feb. 7, 2011, at the age of 78.
Dr. Dan, as he was affectionately known, was born in Canton on Jan. 31, 1933, to Gladys Richardson Hilliard and George Homer Hilliard Sr. He graduated from Canton High School in 1950, received his B.S. degree from Texas A&M University in 1953, and his M.D. from Baylor Medical School in 1957. He interned at Hermann Hospital in Houston.
In 1958, he started a family practice in Canton with his brother, Dr. George Homer Hilliard Jr. After Dr. George died in 1973, Dr. Dan was in solo practice until his retirement. He practiced medicine in Canton for more than 48 years, and delivered more than 1,000 babies.
During his years of practice, he served as chief of staff at Cozby-Germany Hospital in Grand Saline, was named Man-of-the-Year in 1978 by the Canton Chamber of Commerce, served on the local school board as president in the late 1970s and on the Van Zandt County Tax Appraisal Board at its inception.
He was a life member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and held memberships in the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Academy of Family Practice, and the Van Zandt Medical Society.
Dr. Dan was a member of the First Baptist Church of Canton. He was chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Canton, and was secretary of the Van Zandt Medical Society.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 42 years, Sally Dawson Hilliard; grandson, Seth Hilliard; brother, Dr. George Hilliard; and sister and brother-in-law, Emma Lou and Ed Hoot.
Survivors include his wife, Esther Weaver Hilliard; sister, Marjorie Hartley; sons, Dennis Hilliard, his wife Debbie and daughter, Siobhan, and Jeff Hilliard, his wife, Dorie and two children, Ember and Judah; stepchildren, Neal Weaver, Barbara and Ken Isham, Laurie Graham, and Cindy and Kyle Davis; six stepgrandchildren; one stepgreat-grandson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
If desired, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 303 S. Athens, Canton, 75103; or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.
Dr. Dan Hilliard
Services for Dr. Dan Hilliard will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Canton with the Rev. Dr. Gary Hearon officiating. Visitation will be held at Hilliard Funeral Home in Van on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
He died Feb. 7, 2011, at the age of 78.
Dr. Dan, as he was affectionately known, was born in Canton on Jan. 31, 1933, to Gladys Richardson Hilliard and George Homer Hilliard Sr. He graduated from Canton High School in 1950, received his B.S. degree from Texas A&M University in 1953, and his M.D. from Baylor Medical School in 1957. He interned at Hermann Hospital in Houston.
In 1958, he started a family practice in Canton with his brother, Dr. George Homer Hilliard Jr. After Dr. George died in 1973, Dr. Dan was in solo practice until his retirement. He practiced medicine in Canton for more than 48 years, and delivered more than 1,000 babies.
During his years of practice, he served as chief of staff at Cozby-Germany Hospital in Grand Saline, was named Man-of-the-Year in 1978 by the Canton Chamber of Commerce, served on the local school board as president in the late 1970s and on the Van Zandt County Tax Appraisal Board at its inception.
He was a life member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and held memberships in the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Academy of Family Practice, and the Van Zandt Medical Society.
Dr. Dan was a member of the First Baptist Church of Canton. He was chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Canton, and was secretary of the Van Zandt Medical Society.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 42 years, Sally Dawson Hilliard; grandson, Seth Hilliard; brother, Dr. George Hilliard; and sister and brother-in-law, Emma Lou and Ed Hoot.
Survivors include his wife, Esther Weaver Hilliard; sister, Marjorie Hartley; sons, Dennis Hilliard, his wife Debbie and daughter, Siobhan, and Jeff Hilliard, his wife, Dorie and two children, Ember and Judah; stepchildren, Neal Weaver, Barbara and Ken Isham, Laurie Graham, and Cindy and Kyle Davis; six stepgrandchildren; one stepgreat-grandson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
If desired, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 303 S. Athens, Canton, 75103; or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
When Aggies see a need, their energy and their selflessness draw others into the cause, and good things happen.
© 2025 The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, All Rights Reserved