George Dennis Gilley  

Name: George Dennis Gilley born 15 Nov 1922 - Harvey, Cook, Illinois, died 22 Nov 2001 Flossmoor, Cook, Illinois son of George Edward Gilley & Pearl Spangler Zimmerman

married Sheila Jean Smith born 20 Nov 1923 Glasgow, Scotland died 29 Feb 2012 Hazel Crest, IL

They had:

Dennis Gilley m. Elizabeth [-?-]
Thomas Gilley m. linda [-?-]
John Gilley

South Holland attorney George Dennis Gilley died Nov. 22 at age 79 of a heart attack while playing golf at Flossmoor Country Club, where he was former club champion. A Navy pilot during World War II, he was a 1948 graduate of the DePa ul University College of Law.

A south suburban lawyer for more than 50 years, Mr. Gilley also was Harvey finance commissioner from 1951 to 1955. In 1960, he became one of the first 30 Holiday Inn franchise holders and opened a 109-unit hotel in Lansing.

Mr. Gilley also was the owner or part owner of Holiday Inns in Rolling Meadows, Elgin, Kankakee and Angola, Ind., and served on the board of the International Association of Holiday Inns.

He was a partner in Gilley & Walberg and later practiced with his son, Thomas A. Gilley.

George Gilley was board chair of First United Life Insurance Company and a board member of South Suburban Hospital, the Community Bank of Homewood-Flossmoor, First Savings and Loan Association of South Holland, and Pima Capital Insurance Company.
Illinois State Bar News - 3 Dec. 2001


Chicago Tribune (IL) - November 25, 2001 Deceased Name: GILLEY George Dennis Gilley, of Flossmoor, IL, was called home into the loving arms of the Lord for eternal safekeeping on Nov. 22, 2001. Beloved husband for 57 years to Sheila Smith Gilley; loving father of Dennis (Elizabeth), Thomas (Linda), and John (Judith); and adored grandfather to Craig (Lisa), Allison, Elizabeth, Emily, Merrideth, Kathleen, Ian, Margaret, Hannah and Elizabeth Ryann. Mr. Gilley served as a Navy Pilot during WWII. He received a BSC from Drake University and a Juris Doctorate from DePa ul University. He was an entrepreneur and Attorney for 52 years in the South suburban area. His skills and ingenuity afforded him the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Board of First United Life Ins. Co., member of the Board of Directors of Holiday Inns International, First Savings and Loan Assn., of So. Holland, Community Bank of H-F, Mutual Bank, Pima Capital Ins. Co., and South Suburban Hospital. He served as an elder and teacher at Flossmoor Community Church. Mr. Gilley was a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner, and member of the Scottish Rite. As a member of Flossmoor County Club, he was an avid golfer and former club champion. Visitation will be held at Tews Funeral Home, 18320 S. Dixie Hwy, Homewood, Il, from 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, and a memorial service at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001 at Flossmoor Community Church, Hutchison Road and Caroll Parkway, Floosmoor, IL. Memorials may be directed to Flossmoor Community Church Foundation or Glenwood School for Boys.
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Date: November 25, 2001
Edition: Chicagoland Final
Page: 9


Chicago Tribune (IL) - November 26, 2001
Deceased Name: GILLEY
George Dennis Gilley, of Flossmoor, IL, was called home into the loving arms of the Lord for eternal safekeeping on Nov. 22, 2001. Beloved husband for 57 years to Sheila Smith Gilley; loving father of Dennis (Elizabeth), Thomas (Linda), and John (Judith); and adored grandfather to Craig (Lisa), Allison, Elizabeth, Emily, Merrideth, Kathleen, Ian, Margaret, Hannah and Elizabeth Ryann. Mr. Gilley served as a Navy Pilot during WWII. He received a BSC from Drake University and a Juris Doctorate from DePa ul University. He was an entrepreneur and Attorney for 52 years in the South suburban area. His skills and ingenuity afforded him the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Board of First United Life Ins. Co., member of the Board of Directors of Holiday Inns International, First Savings and Loan Assn., of So. Holland, Community Bank of H-F, Mutual Bank, Pima Capital Ins. Co., and South Suburban Hospital. He served as an elder and teacher at Flossmoor Community Church. Mr. Gilley was a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner, and member of the Scottish Rite. As a member of Flossmoor County Club, he was an avid golfer and former club champion. Visitation will be held at Tews Funeral Home, 18320 S. Dixie Hwy, Homewood, Il, from 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, and a memorial service at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001 at Flossmoor Community Church, Hutchison Road and Caroll Parkway, Floosmoor, IL. Memorials may be directed to Flossmoor Community Church Foundation or Glenwood School for Boys.
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Date: November 26, 2001
Edition: North Sports Final
Page: 6


Deceased Name: George Gilley, 79, Holiday Inn franchisee Corporate attorney's family now runs six of the hotels nationwide George D. Gilley died doing what he loved most--playing golf.

In his last game, he was one of the few who made the putt on the last green, his son John recalled.

"My father died doing the things he loved best with the people he loved best," he said. "I am sure he was proud."

Mr. Gilley, of Flossmoor, was a corporate attorney and an early franchise holder of the Holiday Inns in Illinois. He died of heart failure on a golf course at the Flossmoor Country Club on Thanksgiving Day. He was 79.

Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday, and the Gilley family went ahead with their plans and had a family dinner in his honor.

"He enjoyed being with all the members of the family," his son said. "He was an extremely cheerf ul and loving man. His smile and warmth with people from all classes and races always came through."
Born in 1922 in Harvey, Mr. Gilley graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey in 1940.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps and graduated as an ensign just a year later because he had obtained a pilot's license when he was 16. Mr. Gilley flew in the Navy until August 1945. Later that year, he joined the reserves.

Upon his return from World War II, Mr. Gilley earned a bachelor's in science from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1946.
That year, he married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Smith. They had three sons: John, Thomas and Dennis.
Mr. Gilley earned a law degree from DePa ul University in 1948. He practiced as a corporate lawyer in Harvey and South Holland.
He opened the first Holiday Inn franchise in Lansing in 1960, his family said. This hotel was owned and operated by Kay Corp., of which Mr. Gilley was president.

In 1968, he opened a second Holiday Inn franchise in Angola, Ind. Mr. Gilley acquired a site in Harvey to establish another Holiday Inn as a 320-unit hotel with 60,000 square feet of commercial space and a gross revenue of $10 million per year.

"My dad could be a risk-taker, when appropriate," his son John said. "If it had not been for Dad, my living and my brothers' living may not have been secured."

The Gilley family now operates six Holiday Inns throughout the United States.

Because of his passion for golf, Mr. Gilley was proud of his granddaughters' accomplishments in the sport, including the two times Emily won the Illinois High School Girls Golf Championship.

Survivors include sons Dennis and Thomas and nine other grandchildren.

A memorial service took place Wednesday at Flossmoor Community Church, with burial at Cedar Park Cemetery in Calumet Park.
Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Date: November 29, 2001
Page: 69