Roger Hilton Reid

A life well-lived is measured by the number of friends and family that truly miss his presence. That statement was never truer than it was for Roger Reid. His life was centered around his faith in Jesus Christ, the love for his wife, Pat, his love of family and others. A remarkable life that, for him, began in the humblest of circumstances and went on to see him achieve tremendous success. Roger was always more interested in sharing the credit for his accomplishments with those around him, all the while encouraging and loving his family.

Roger Hilton Reid grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the Great Depression. He was born on June 19th, 1933. His parents, Charlotte and Earl, had two other children, Delores, an older sister, and Harlan, a brother who followed closely behind Roger. Harlan and Roger were inseparable. Times were hard so Roger started throwing newspapers in elementary school to help his family. When he was old enough he began selling concessions at a local ballpark. When he wasn’t in school or earning extra money for his family, Roger and Harlan would play at Archer Park. There they developed a love of sports. Football, baseball, almost any game. Little did Roger know how those sports would change his life.

Roger studied hard and did well in school. He was Vice President of his senior class at Will Rogers Memorial High School. He excelled not only in academics but also on the gridiron. He received a football scholarship as a quarterback to Bacone Indian College.

Baseball was always Roger’s passion. He played short stop and third base in the summer semi-pro baseball league in Coffeyville, Kansas. Roger’s love of baseball actually led him to the love of his life. He met a young waitress at the local cafe in Coffeyville and soon he was spending his afternoons there, helping her fold napkins. After his first date with Pat, they never dated anyone else.

Roger was drafted into the Army and trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He played baseball for the Army. The young private proposed to Pat Hawkins and hitchhiked to Kansas in the snow to marry Pat on December 11, 1953. On the day of his wedding he fell asleep in the church and they almost didn’t find him for the ceremony. Roger wore his Army uniform, Pat borrowed a wedding dress, and they began a love story that lasted for 66 years.

After his service in the Army, Roger and Pat moved to Tulsa where he received a B.A. in

Journalism and worked for the Tulsa Daily World. He went on to become Director

for the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. Their first daughter, Rebecca Ann, was born in Tulsa.

In 1960, Roger joined Southern Gas Association in Dallas, where he devoted his career to linking people, ideas and information to strengthen the natural gas industry. He began as Managing Director at SGA then served 16 years as President, retiring in 1996. While at SGA, Roger served as Vice Chairman of the American Society of Association Executives and as a board member for the Southwest Research Institute. He later began a TV network to link member gas companies. Roger was a progressive thinker and was always looking for new ways to improve communication. His staff at SGA became part of the family and his professional success was surpassed only by the strength and breadth of the lifelong friendships he and Pat made with members and associates.

Pat and Roger’s daughter, Lori Lynn, was born shortly after moving to Dallas. As members of Royal Haven Baptist Church, Roger taught Sunday School and served in leadership. Together, Coach Roger and Coach Howard took on the challenge of teaching a small group of young girls how to play softball. They formed a mighty team that won several championships in the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce League. He was PTA president in his daughters’ elementary, junior high and high schools. He was an exemplary father, sharing his daughters’ interests, all the while listening and providing strong, gentle and encouraging guidance. He always found more joy sharing in the successes of his family than he did in his own.

Roger’s love of sport continued with tennis and golf. He played golf courses many golfers dream about – Augusta National twice, The Olde Course at St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Congressional. One of his greatest joys was watching the smooth swing of his grandson, Jonathan Borders, as he developed a love for the game. As Jonathan was growing up, Roger would take him to junior golf tournaments and together they shared a bond much stronger than golf. Jonathan named his first son, Reid, after his beloved grandfather. Roger’s brother Harlan named his only son Roger to honor his older brother. Another great-grandson bears the middle name of Reid as well. Roger was adored and loved by his entire family.

Roger’s favorite tennis and golf partner was his wife, Pat. He loved teaching her the game and watching her hit her long drives. He was more excited for Pat’s first hole-in-one than his own. Pat and Roger enjoyed their days together at Bent Tree Country Club. Their neighbors in Bent Tree Village became family as well.

Pat and Roger were long time members at Prestonwood Baptist Church. They had a heart for reaching out and serving others. They also believed in traditional American values and worked tirelessly to support politicians with those values.

His five grandchildren often spoke about their grandfather as being one of the kindest, sweetest, most caring men they had ever known. He spent time with each of them and was a part of their lives, interests, challenges and joys. He had the amazing ability to be comfortable on roller skates at a birthday party, to cheer at a soccer or t-ball game, to applaud a dance recital, a spelling bee or a horse show, to dance at their weddings, or to take a walk together and simply listen. His love for his grandchildren was always evident.

Roger, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died August 24th after contracting Covid-19 while living at The Legacy at Willow Bend. He was 87 years old. His death in no way defined his life. Character, integrity, initiative, compassion and a strong, quiet faith were always the hallmarks of Roger’s life. A life well lived.

Roger was predeceased by his wife, Pat, his parents, sister Delores and brother Harlan. Roger is survived by his daughter Becky Borders and husband Steve; his daughter Lori and husband Gordon; his five grandchildren: Jonathan Borders and wife Amy; Elizabeth Combs and husband Jonathan; Rachel Wilkerson and husband Jon Harrison; Ellen Wilkerson and Caroline Wilkerson; his three great-grandchildren, Reid Borders, Graham Borders and Calvin Harrison; and many much loved in-laws, nieces and nephews. A private family graveside service was held on August 31st at Sparkman/Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In Roger’s memory, donations may be made to the following charities: Make-A-Wish North Texas: https://ntx.wish.org; North Texas Food Bank: https://give.ntfb.org.