ship of Christian Ath- though, he might not even have met Julie. letes. Bob Lilly, Sr. and While still single, Julie was headed to a Tom Landry were two of wedding reception and needed a date. She the youth organization’s didn’t want to give any of the guys she knew cornerstones as far as at the time a sign that things might be getting organizing and support- serious, so she talked to a co-worker of hers ing local chapters, and at Susquehanna Radio. This co-worker knew the spiritual lessons that Bob and connected the two of them. The Bob, Jr. learned from his result: love at first sight – neither one of them father continue to carry ever went out on a date with another person on in his personal life and after that. community involvement. Soon after that, the third priority – busi- Living life by the ness – took shape for both of them. Bob was “Tom Landry” rules 30 at the time and looking to transition into meant that a person a new career. A contact at church pointed had three priorities, in him in the direction of promotions, and it this order: God, family, wasn’t too long before Bob Lilly Professional and then football. Bob Promotions took off. After twelve years, the Lilly, Sr. was not the company has provided marketing consulting only player who took and promotional solutions for such clients as this philosophy to heart; the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Match. Roger Staubach is just com, Frito-Lay, Nokia, TXU Energy, and one of many former Cow- Scottish Rite Hospital. Their range of services boys who have led their includes developing ideas for marketing pre- lives, as players and in miums and producing promotional clothing retirement, according to items and accessories, commercial printing, those values. For Bob, Jr., as well as handling all of the logistics on the though, these values have distribution end of things. become a way of life. One of the most rewarding parts of the When it comes to serv- success of Bob Lilly Professional Promotions ing God, Bob, Julie and has been the chance for the husband-and- their sons Beau (7) and wife team to work as business partners, as Brandon (5) attend Park well. Julie serves as the Chief Financial Of- Cities Baptist Church in ficer for the company. And their partnership Dallas, devoting time to is paying off – in 2008 and 2009, Bob Lilly volunteer in church and Professional Promotions was named by Coun- civic projects. Outside selor, the premier publication of the promo- the church, though, Bob tional products industry, as its Best Places to sits on the board of the Work. In 2007, the company appeared in Inc. Dallas chapter of the Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing Fellowship of Christian privately-owned companies in the United Athletes and devotes States. considerable time sup- This hard work paid off again when Bob porting chapters all over was asked to serve on the Host Committee for the Metroplex. The Tom Super Bowl XLV. Of all of the great experi- Landry Open, benefit- ences associated with working to organize ing Greater Dallas FCA, the game, though, the most rewarding for Bob will celebrate its 34th was the chance to work with Bill Lively, and edition on April 18, 2011, learn different ways to communicate with all at Frisco’s Stonebriar of the partners associated with a project of Country Club, sponsored that size, and to prioritize and delegate tasks s a young boy, some of Bob Lilly, Jr.’s by the Harold Simmons Foundation. Lilly so that the event would come off as seam- fondest memories involve mischief estimates that this year’s tournament will lessly as possible. Another rewarding part of A at the old Dallas Cowboys practice raise over $400,000 for local FCA programs, the project, as Bob put it, was “seeing North facility on Forest Lane, running around with from entry fees, sponsorships, and a live and Texas come together…Dallas coming together the sons of some of the other players, making silent auction. with Ft. Worth, Arlington getting closer to rolls of athletic tape mysteriously disap- Family has been especially valuable for Dallas, and seeing all of the area mayors get pear and occasionally knocking over the odd Bob and Julie, and this is reflected in their along.” projector. Tackling sleds were their jungle other philanthropic endeavors. Because both When it comes time to organize Super gyms, and Sunday afternoons were spent out of their sons involved high-risk pregnancies, Bowl L, Bob says, “we hope that people will at the Cotton Bowl, the original home of the Children’s Medical Center played a key role look at the data and see how much hosting proud franchise that now plays under one of in their early health, and Bob and Julie have the game really benefited the community the world’s largest video screens in Arlington. attempted to give back through volunteer economically.” Bob remembers one particularly cold Sunday, work and fundraising. When Julie’s niece For Lilly, though, the bottom line isn’t the when he was four or five years old, when his was diagnosed with leukemia at age four, Bob most important part – which is one reason mother was wrapping him up in layer after and Julie got involved with local leukemia why we are proud to feature Bob and his wife layer – even putting Saran Wrap between projects, serving as co-chairs for Light the as our ON People. layers of socks to keep his feet a few degrees Night walks for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Want to learn more? Check out http:// warmer. Society. In 2011, there will be two Light the www.boblillypromo.com to learn about Bob Part of growing up as Bob Lilly, Jr. meant Night walks in Greater Dallas: the Campus Lilly Professional Promotions, and check out growing up around the Dallas Cowboys. An- at Legacy walk on October 22, and the Main http://www.fcadallas.org to learn how you other part of it meant growing up as the son Street Garden Park walk on October 30. can help support a local chapter of the Fel- of one of the earliest supporters of the Fellow- If Bob hadn’t been willing to take risks, lowship of Christian Athletes.

70 | ON magazine | FASHION 2011