Lew Gillis composer / arranger

Gillis began playing trombone with the Stock Show Rodeo Band in the mid-1940s. He became director of the band in 1957 after the death of George Orum. Gillis' older brother, the late Don Gillis, is credited with bringing swing music to the NBC Symphony.

Gillis graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Texas Christian University. For his master's thesis, Gillis wrote a song called Carla, inspired by the hurricane.

Gillis was band director at TCU during the 1950s. After leaving TCU, he wrote commercial jingles for television and radio.

He worked in the jazz music department at the University of North Texas from 1969 to 1977.

He was a member and former elder at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth and a volunteer at the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth.