D.L. “DALLY” WILLIS

1920-2017

For 53 years, Dallas Leon “Dally” Willis championed working people in dual roles as a beloved local labor leader and a widely respected statewide labor lobbyist. 

Willis chartered the Permian Basin Central Labor Council in 1961 and served as its President until his retirement in 2014. The Permian Basin has never had a high density of union membership, but under Willi’s leadership, the CLC was extraordinarily active and recognized for maintaining a strong labor voice in the Midland-Odessa region.

At the same time, Willis was an indispensable member of the United Labor Legislative Committee - the eyes and ears of both ULLCO and the Communications Workers of America at the Texas House. He would routinely stand at the House entrance before daily sessions and greet every legislator by name. Around holidays, he handed out appropriate stickers to all comers, including hearts on Valentine’s Day, shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day, and bunnies on Easter. Willis’s Three Rules of Lobbying are a fixture at ULLCO training. They are as follows: “#1, Be Nice. #2 Be Nice. and #3, Be Nice.” Willis was always nice, yet he was always ready to battle for a rising wages agenda. A classic yellow-dog Democrat, Willis was nevertheless honored in resolutions by a Republican majority on several occasions. 

A Marine and veteran of World War II, Willis worked for Southwestern Bell and its successors, joining CWA Local 6127. He and his wife, Margaret, reared three sons.