OXFORD, MS, July 06, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present RADM Thomas G. Lilly with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, RADM Lilly has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his fields of endeavor. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
RADM Lilly was born in Belzoni, MS. Following his high school graduation in Charleston, MS, he served as a Congressional Page in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1951. In 1955, he received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Tulane University and his commission in the Supply Corps USN. He obtained his LL.B. degree in 1960 and J.D. degree in 1968 from the University of Mississippi. As a flag officer, he also attended the Executive Program in National & International Security, Kennedy School, Harvard University, 1982.
After receiving his commission, RADM Lilly attended the Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, GA. Upon graduation, he served as Supply & Disbursing Officer of the USS Betelgeuse (AK-260), an attack cargo ship supporting the Mediterranean Sixth Fleet. He then served as Disbursing Officer & Assistant to the Supply Officer, NAS Sanford, FL, where he completed his active duty service. Upon his release from active duty, he joined the Naval Reserve while attending law school. Before his promotion to flag rank, his assignments included Supply Officer, Air Wing Staff 79 and later NARDIV 791, NAS Memphis, and Commanding Officer, ASB (Advance Supply Base) 109, New Orleans. His active duty periods in the Naval Reserve included, inter alia, service at Atlantic Fleet Headquarters, Naval Supply Systems Command and Office of the CNO (Logistics). Following his promotion to Rear Admiral in 1981, he was appointed the first Commander of the newly reorganized and expanded Navy Cargo Handling Force, a fifteen-command structure for meeting worldwide mobilization requirements of the Fleet. Retiring from the Naval Reserve in 1988, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for directing the reorganization and expansion of the Cargo Handling Force and the Navy Commendation Medal in 1977 for service as Exercise Commander of a National ASB Exercise involving all 18 NR ASB units.
RADM Lilly also enjoyed a storied career in the legal profession. He was a member of Lilly & Wise, Jackson, MS, 1994 – 2000 and then Of Counsel to the firm, 2001-2003, before retiring from practicing law. He had formerly served as an associate for one year and then as a partner with the Wise Carter law firm in Jackson, 1966-1994, where he served as the firm's president, 1990-1992. He had also served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of MS in Oxford from 1962 to 1966 and earlier as an associate with Stovall & Price, Corinth, MS, 1960 to 1962.
He was admitted to practice law in Mississippi in 1960 and then admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of MS (1961) and its Southern District (1966). At the appellate level, he was admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1963), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1993), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Services (1995) and U.S. Supreme Court (1968).
RADM Lilly also served as a leader in various local, state, regional and national organizations, including as a board director for United Way Oxford (2009-2010) and board director (2005-2007) for Salt & Light Ministry Foundation. He and his wife have been members of the Oxford-University United Methodist Church since 2007 and RADM Lilly served on the church's Finance Committee (2011-2013). Prior to their move to Oxford in 2007, he was a member of Galloway U.M. Church in Jackson, MS (1973-2007), where he served in several positions. While at Galloway, he served as a U.S. delegate to the Eurasia United Methodist Conference, Moscow, Russia, 2002, and as a Mississippi delegate to the 19th World Methodist Conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2006.
In 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, RADM Lilly lectured before senior officials of the Ministry of Justice in the newly independent Republic of Uzbekistan, at Tashkent State Institute of Law (1993), and at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1993 and 1994.
RADM Lilly was inducted as a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation and fellow of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. In addition, he was inducted into the Lamar Order, School of Law, University of Mississippi. In 2017, he was elected Chancellor of the MS Society, General Society of the War of 1812. He served as president of the Daniel McKie Chapter, MS Society, National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (2016-2017), the Family Research Assn. of MS (2005), the Central MS Council, Navy League (1993), and the MS Department, Reserve Officers Association (1982-1983).
He held leadership roles in the Federal Bar Association, Washington, DC, over a period of several years, including the office of national president (1979-1980). At the time, his election was considered noteworthy as he was the first person since the Association's founding in 1920 to become president and work and live outside the Washington, D.C. - Philadelphia federal corridor. He also served on the Board of Governors of the National Lawyers Club in Washington, DC (1976-1981), the Board of Directors, Democracy Development Institute in Washington, (1995-2003) and the Board of Legal Advisors, Southeastern Legal Foundation, Atlanta, GA (1988-1995). Other affiliations include the Jamestowne Society, MS Genealogical Society, Lafayette County Hist. & Gen. Society, Sigma Nu, Naval Historical Society, Naval Order of the U.S., Navy Supply Corps Foundation, Association of the U.S. Navy, the Military Officers Association of America and the Military Order of World Wars. He also served for several years on the MS Comm., Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve.
He was inducted into Delta Sigma Pi and the national honor society of Scabbard and Blade at Tulane University, served as president of the Mayes Inn Chapter of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity at the University of Mississippi, while also serving on the Moot Court Board and the Law Journal Staff at the law school (1959-1960). He was also inducted into the national honor society of Omicron Delta Kappa at the University of Mississippi (1959-1960).
RADM Lilly was awarded a commendation by the national president of the Federal Bar Association for outstanding service (1972) and outstanding leadership and service (1973). The Mississippi Chapter of the FBA recognized RADM Lilly for extraordinary service in 1973.
Married to Constance Ray Holland Lilly since 1962, RADM Lilly is the proud father of three children and five grandchildren.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to the military and legal fields as well as the Marquis Who's Who community, RADM Thomas G. Lilly has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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