A Family’s Way of Giving Back

The legacy of Development Board Member C. Brien Dillon lives on through memorial gifts to the IMM

C. Brien Dillon

Audrey Dillon, the widow of Development Board Life Member C. Brien Dillon, knows unequivocally how her late husband felt about The University of Texas, particularly The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Her husband, after all, was an alumnus of UT Austin and a graduate of UT School of Law. “He loved The University of Texas,” Audrey Dillon said.

After their only daughter, Kay Dillon Peters, died of Friedreich’s Ataxia, a genetic disorder that slowly attacks the muscles and nervous system, Audrey Dillon said she and her husband were determined to help researchers at the UT Health Science Center at Houston fight the disease. So the couple decided to make a gift to the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases (IMM).

On July 7, the UT Health Science Center at Houston family mourned the loss of C. Brien Dillon, who distinguished himself as a lawyer, a dedicated family man and a valued member of the Development Board since 1983. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years and sons Robert B. Dillon and Douglas J. Dillon. He was 83.

“Brien Dillon was a long-standing friend of the university who demonstrated his commitment by giving generously of his time and his personal resources. We shall all miss him,” said UT Health Science Center President James T. Willerson, M.D. “He considered being on the Development Board one of the highlights of his volunteer service. We are grateful to his family for recognizing his life by further supporting our mission of disease prevention and cure.”Audrey Dillon fondly remembers her husband’s devotion to his family and causes that were important to him.

“My husband was very loyal and true to his family and the UT Health Science Center,” Audrey Dillon said. “The IMM was something he just naturally wanted to support when our daughter died. He and Dr. Willerson talked on a regular basis about the wonderful work going on there.”

Among C. Brien Dillon’s many charitable commitments were memorial gifts. Upon his death, his family asked friends to make memorial gifts to the health science center in his memory.

From 1981, Dillon gave continuously to the health science center and was one of the early supporters of
the IMM. His benevolence branched out to PARTNERS, the School of Nursing and Student Community Center, the Weatherhead PET Center for Preventing and Reversing Atherosclerosis, the Dental Branch Dean’s Excellence Fund and the President’s Excellence Fund. He also served on the board of the Houston Visiting Nurses Association.

In addition to supporting UT Health Science Center at Houston, Dillon also supported his alma mater, serving as a member of UT System Chancellor’s Council. An astronomy buff, Dillon pursued his interest in the science by serving as a board member of the McDonald Observatory at UT Austin.

For three decades, Dillon worked as a senior partner with the Houston law firm Baker Botts, where he specialized in antitrust law until his retirement in 1987.

Born in Amarillo, Texas, Dillon served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy before receiving his law degree. He was a member of the Southwest Legal Foundation, the Antitrust Advisory Board Bureau of National Affairs and Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. He was also a fellow of the board of governors of the American Bar Association.

Audrey Dillon said contributions already have poured in from several friends who have designated their gifts specifically to the IMM.

“Giving back to the health science center is tops in a lot of people’s minds and hearts,” Audrey Dillon said. “I know it will help people even more someday.”