Dallas Residents Recognized With 2004 Gregory Service Award

WACO -- Baylor University presented the annual Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Service Award to John and Marie Chiles of Dallas, during the April 17 meeting of the Baylor Development Council.
The award honors a development volunteer, whose enthusiasm for Baylor is "contagious and ever present." Recipients are well known in their communities for their eagerness to influence others to do their part in supporting Baylor.
John Chiles received his bachelor of business administration degree from Baylor in 1950 and his law degree from Baylor Law School in 1952. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force, serving as a Staff Judge Advocate for three years in both the United States and England. While in England, he met and married his wife, Marie, who was serving as a first lieutenant in the Air Force. After being discharged as a captain, John served as an attorney in the law department of Humble Oil and Refining Co., which later became Exxon. He retired as senior staff counsel in 1982.
Marie Chiles received her bachelor's degree in mathematics at Chatham College. She retired from the business world in 1960. Since 1966, she has been a student of the decorative arts, studying in England at the Victorian Society in London and the Attingham Summer School.
At Baylor, the Chiles were organizers and members of the Founding Board of Directors of the Strecker Museum Associates. John served as its first president from 1989-93 and again from 1997-98. He is a past president of the Baylor Law Alumni Association, life member and past director of the Baylor Alumni Association, member of the Torchbearers Society and chair of the executive steering committee to raise $23 million to construct the new facility for Baylor's Strecker Museum and the Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center. The new facility, The Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center, centerpiece of the Sue and Frank Mayborn Natural Science and Cultural History Museum Complex, will open to the public May 22.
In 1990, the Baylor Alumni Association presented the Chiles with the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award, and in 1998, John was recognized as an outstanding graduate of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business. They are major gift supporters and longtime advocates of Baylor Law School, as well as members of Old Main Society, The Presidents Club, the Quadrangle Club, the Platinum Circle of the Endowed Scholarship Society and the James Huckins and Pat Neff societies of The Medallion Fellowship. The Chiles were honored by the Dallas Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives in 2000.
While living in Houston, Marie served on the boards of Holly Hall Home for the Retired, the Houston Symphony and The Blue Bird Circle. She served as director of The Barnes Decorative Arts Course in Waco until 1993, coordinator of the Friends of the Decorative Arts at the Dallas Museum of Art and is currently coordinator of special projects at the Dallas Heritage Society for Old City Park, The Historical Village of Dallas.
John has served in leadership capacities with Crime Stoppers of Waco, the Central Texas Exxon Annuitants Club and the Brazos Higher Education Service Corp. He serves on the board of directors of the Dallas County Heritage Society and served as president of the North Texas Exxon Annuitants' Club for three terms. In 2001, he was inducted into the Waxahachie High School Hall of Fame.
The Chiles are active members of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas.
The Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Service Award is named in memory of Milton T. Gregory, a 1935 Baylor graduate and university trustee. Throughout his life, Gregory distinguished himself in the role of volunteer and partner with higher education, especially Baylor. Appreciating the value of academic education, Gregory never missed an opportunity to promote the interests of Baylor. His personal achievement, integrity and service to Baylor for more than 50 years are the characteristics for which this award is named in his memory.