Robert L. Tillman

Robert Leon Tillman, retired State of Kansas Supreme Court Services Officer II, was born in Boley, Oklahoma, April 4, 1946, to Benjamin Franklin Tillman, Sr. and Birdlean (Horn) Tillman. Both of his parents preceded him in death.   Robert was raised on a 160 acre farm east of Boley, OK., near IXL, OK. He attended Anderson Chapel; a one room schoolhouse with one teacher for grades first to eighth. After eighth grade he attended Boley High School for one school year. At age 15, Robert left home and moved to Wichita, Kansas to live with his brother, Author. Upon arriving to Wichita, Robert enrolled at Wichita High School East from tenth grade until he graduated in May of 1964.  Robert, while still in high school, Robert obtained his first job at King Music Company delivering pianos. During the first ten years after his high school graduation, Robert worked for several companies/businesses, which included: Coleman Company, Cessna Aircraft Company, Wesley Hospital and Boeing Aircraft Company. He was also co-owner of Dick’s Lounge.  In 1974, Robert enrolled as a full-time student at Wichita State University (WSU) Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He graduated from WSU with three bachelor’s degrees: Sociology, Psychology and Minority Studies in 1978.  At the end of his senior year at WSU, Robert was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He filled out the 15-page application and was approved for employment, passed the interview but changed his mind. Instead, he continued his post education graduating from WSU with a master’s degree of Sociology in 1981.  While studying for his Master’s degree, Robert worked as a Psychiatric Aide with Sedgwick County Mental Health Division followed by becoming an assistant teacher at Holy Family Center in the area of Sensory Motor Skills and Recreation Therapy until 1979. In 1980, while in graduate school, Robert worked for the City of Wichita, KS., as an Outreach Worker, then was promoted to the Human Resources Department as an Administrative Aide with the Commission on the Status of the Handicapped; Commission of the Status of Women and Section 504 Coordinator with the Citizen Participation Organization from 1980 to 1983.  Employment with Sedgwick County Mental Health Department and the James Riddell Boys Ranch followed. In addition to the fore mentioned, Robert owned and worked at his Tillman’s Family Restaurant.  In 1984, Robert was cleared for employment by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to be a Kansas Supreme Court Services Officer.  The approximate 500 members of Kansas Association of Court Service Officers are the law enforcement arm of the Kansas Supreme Court. He was assigned to the 18th Judicial District Court of Sedgwick County, Wichita, KS.  Robert's career with the 18th Judicial District Court continued for 24 years until his retirement in May 2008.   As an honor to him, the Kansas Supreme Court and the Sedgwick County 18th Judicial District retired his badge and his identification, then presented them to him at his retirement celebration.  This made Robert a Kansas Court Services Officer for LIFE.  Robert believed in the importance of volunteer services. This belief led him to donate hundreds of hours to various organizations and he was honored with approximately 50 certificates of appreciation from many organizations.  Robert was on the Board of Directors for: United Way of the Plains; Wichita/Sedgwick County Regional Drug and Alcohol Prevention Center; Halfway House for Adults Federal Program; the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Project Freedom Drug/Alcohol Program; and National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. Some of the many committees Robert served on include the Committee to establish a Credit Union Project; Wichita/Sedgwick County Prison Reintegration Project and the Community Leadership Development Project.  After retirement, Robert, still feeling the need to serve his community and state, decided to become involved in politics. He was a candidate for the United States Congress as a Representative for the State of Kansas, District 4, in 2010, 2012 and 2016, winning one general election. In the 2016 general election, Robert carried 14 of the 17 counties but loss the primary by approximately 545 votes.  He ended his quest to be a Representative for the United States Congress.  However, his supporters convinced him to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate. This ended his quest to represent Kansas in United States Congress.  For over thirty-five years, Robert was known to many by his license plate, “Double-O-SOUL”. He was a classic car enthusiast winning awards for his Prowler and Corvettes. Robert was a member of the “Air Capital Corvette Club” and “Faith Riders Corvette Club” of Oklahoma City.  On Saturday, July 3, 2021, God Almighty summoned Brother Robert Leon Tillman Home for his eternal rest.

His love and memory will be treasured forever by his wife: Linda G. Tillman of the home; children: Marvin Tillman of Colorado; Stacey ( Velenda) Dewberry of Fort Worth, TX; Brothers: Johnnie (Opal) Tillman (Opal) of Oklahoma City, OK; and Benjamin (Ina Faye) Tillman of Wichita, KS; Sister: Alberta Tillman-Patterson, Waco, TX; Grandsons: Anthony and Andrew Tillman of Colorado; Kewan (Latoya) Dewberry and Keestan Dewberry of Dallas, TX; Great-Grandchildren: Keataira, Kadar, Kaden, Kristian and Karis Dewberry; and a host of nieces, nephews and other sorrowing relatives and friends.  Robert will be truly missed.

Robert is preceded in death by both parents, an infant sibling, sisters: Rose Bell Tillman-Marshall, Rose Lee Tillman-White-Barnett, Martha Tillman-Williams and Dora Lee Tillman-Butler; brothers: Author Tillman and Hurigh Tillman; stepmother: Henrietta Marzett-Carr-Tillman-Hodge; stepsiblings: Grover and Lewis Carr, Loretta Carr-Brooks and Betty Carr-Durham. 

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