Doyle Liles Moore

Doyle was born on June 6, 1923, in Stephenville, Texas, to Charles Francis and Gladys Liles Moore. After graduating in 1939 from Stephenville High School, he graduated from Texas A&M College in January 1943 at 19 years of age with a B.S. in Dairy Science. Doyle later earned a Master of Education Degree from Texas A&M University and did additional graduate work at the University of Kentucky.

Doyle entered the U.S Army Air Corps in February 1943 and served with the 437th Troop Carrier Group, 9th Air Force in England and France during World War II. The 437th was involved in the D-Day invasion with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, along with later engagements in the European Theater, including the Battle of the Bulge. Doyle was a current member of Earl Graham Post 159, American Legion.

After being honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps at Patterson Field, Ohio, in November, 1945, Doyle spent a brief time with Borden Milk Company in Houston, and then worked in artificial insemination in dairy breeding programs in Waco and surrounding area. It was in Waco that he met and married Tillie Mae Spross, who remained his devoted wife and companion for over 64 years until her death in October 2011.

In 1948, Doyle began a 36-year career with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service (now Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) which included service as County Agricultural Agent in Washington and Colorado counties, District Extension Director at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Uvalde, and culminated his career in College Station as Associate Director of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. He was named Associate Director Emeritus by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents upon retirement in 1984.

Doyle was honored by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents with their Distinguished Service Award at their annual meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in 1961, and served in various leadership roles with the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association, including president in 1970.

Among Doyle’s many professional recognitions were the Superior Service Award from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in 1981, and

the State Distinguished Service Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Honorary Extension Fraternity, in 1984. Always active in community and civic affairs both in Columbus and Uvalde, following retirement he served locally as president of Chapter 607, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and was a charter member and long-time Accredited Visitor of Bryan/College Station Chapter 207, Mended Hearts. Doyle was a Master Mason for over 70 years; he was a Past Master of Caledonia Lodge No. 68 in Columbus, Texas, and was currently an Endowed Life Member of Sul Ross Lodge No. 1300 A.F & A.M. in College Station.

Doyle was active in livestock programs and was honored on numerous occasions by both the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition for over thirty years of service at each show as Livestock Superintendent. Only recently, the Houston Show officials named him as one of the first recipients of their newly established Lifetime Superintendent Award. One of his most meaningful honors was when the Colorado County Fair Association dedicated their 1986 County Fair to him as their tribute of “Gone But Not Forgotten”—15 years after he had left the Colorado County Agent’s position.

Doyle was an ordained Baptist deacon and was a long-time member of Parkway Baptist Church in College Station.

Doyle was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Tillie Spross Moore; parents; a brother, Norman Moore; and a sister, Ruby Jo Fanning. He is survived by a daughter, Dr. Janice Moore of Lafayette, Colorado; and a son, Dr. Randy Moore of Hopkins, Minnesota, along with several nieces, nephews. Janice and Randy are graduates of Columbus High School and both were inducted into the CHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor in May, 2007.

A memorial service celebrating Doyle’s life will be held at Arbor Oaks at Crestview in Bryan, Texas. The family invites you to donate to the charity of your choice in memory of Doyle. To the end and always, he was a man of great kindness, good humor, fine intelligence, and deep, steady love. We will miss him.