A.M. Willis' Obituary
Born Achille Murat
Willis Jr. on October 9,
1916, in Richmond,
Virginia, Monk Willis Jr.
passed away peacefully, surrounded
by family and friends,
on January 14, 2011.
Mr. Willis was graduated
from Washington & Lee University
and Harvard Graduate
School of Bus ines s
Administration. He served in
the United States Navy from
1942-46, achieving the rank
of lieutenant commander,
after which he began and
operated an insurance business
in Longview, Texas, for
some 25 years. He was a
delegate to the National
Democratic Convention in
1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968.
A friend and advisor to President
Lyndon Johnson, he
was personally requested to
accompany Mrs. Johnson
back to East Texas upon the
death of her father.
Monk had a strong interest
in the community, where he
served as president of Longview
Civic Music Association,
chairman of Longview Planning
& Zoning Commission,
chairman of Nicholson Memorial
Library, chairman of Longview
Mental Health Association,
president of Longview
Museum and Arts Center,
chairman of Gregg County
Red Cross and a director of
Gregg County United Fund.
He was also past director of
Texas State Commission on
Mental Health and Texas
Commi s s ion for Bet ter
Schools and past chairman of
Texas Committee of Governing
Boards.
A champion of higher education,
Mr. Willis served on
the Board of Regents of North
Texas State University from
1965 to 1983, serving as the
chairman of the board for 10
years. In honor of his service
on the board of the University
of North Texas, they
named their library the A.M.
Willis Jr. Library.
In 1972, Monk joined the
staff of the Honorable Ray
Roberts, United States congressman
from the 4th Congressional
District of Texas,
serving as his administrative
assistant until 1976 when Mr.
Willis was appointed staff
di r e c t o r o f the Hous e
Veterans' Affairs Committee.
He remained in Washington
until he retired in 1983,
moving back to Longview at
that time.
He was preceded in death
by his loving wife of 47 years,
Frances, who died in 1995.
Her loving loyalty to family
and her service as the first
director of Sabine Valley
MHMR Center was a source
of great pride.
He is survived by his
daughters, Cathy Willis of
Houston, Elizabeth Kackley
and her husband, Rick, of
Plano, and Mary Tabor and
her husband, John, of Tulsa,
Oklahoma; and his favorite
granddog, Murphy. Throughout
his life and especially
during his final illness, his
daughters exemplified the
very personification of love
and devotion as they cared
for their father.
He is also survived by a
sister, Elizabeth Willis Hill of
Philadelphia; nieces, Emmie
Hill-Minter, Julie Campbell-
Hill and Alice Starr-Hill, and
their families.
His extended "family"
included Judge Robert Parker
and Judge T. John Ward and
their families. The friendships
of those who came into his
life were a treasure he cherished.
Those individuals
became Monk's "family."
Intellectually honest to the
highest degree, he was a
lover of books, reciter of
poetry and a tireless advocate
for civility among all
mankind. In 2005, he was
honored with the first Unity
Award from Longview's Race
Relations Committee. He was
a trusted advisor to congressmen,
and as comfortable
dining with presidents as
the common man at the local
diner. He was oft to say to
those who might treat him to
lunch, "Thanks for being kind
to old people; you make a
difference in my life." Monk
Willis was kind to all people
and made a difference in all
the lives he touched.
In lieu of flowers, anyone
caring to do so may make
any memorial to the A.M. Willis
Jr. Scholarship Fund, Office of developement, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #311250, Denton, Texas 76203.
Services will be noon
Wednesday, January 19,
2011, at Longview Presbyterian
Church
What’s your fondest memory of A.M. ?
What’s a lesson you learned from A.M. ?
Share a story where A.M. 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with A.M. you’ll never forget.
How did A.M. make you smile?