Anthony Thomas Pall Jr. (“Tony”), 84, of Victoria, passed away Saturday, October 17, 2026, surrounded by his children and one of his closest friends. He was born June 20, 1942, in Carmel, California, where his parents were stationed prior to World War II. After his father’s service in the Army and employment with Texaco, the family moved frequently but settled for a time in Alice, Texas, where Tony graduated from Alice High School in 1960.
After attending Texas A&I Kingsville, Tony moved to Victoria, where he owned Overhead Door Company of Victoria, later founded Total Performance Engineering, where he specialized in engine rebuilding and fabrication, and ultimately retired as a maintenance technician for Formosa Plastics in Point Comfort.
Tony was beloved by an enormous circle of friends, from lifelong high school classmates and decades-long racing buddies to fellow car enthusiasts and regulars at his favorite local watering holes. He enjoyed a good chicken-fried steak, a cold beer, country music, dominoes, and sharing stories of his many adventures. Tony never met a stranger and never lost touch with those he loved.
During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Tony made headlines as a drag racing champion, competing nationwide and frequently at Victoria’s historic Six Flags Raceway. He remains the only Victorian to hold both national and world records in stock and super stock drag racing, recognized by the National Hot Rod Association and other prestigious organizations. A lifelong Chevrolet Corvette enthusiast, he restored many throughout the years and was a founding member of the Victoria Corvette Club. His influence on local motorsports endures, and generations of mechanics, car club members, and racing enthusiasts found their way to Tony’s garage to learn from the master.
Above all, Tony was a loving father, doting grandfather, lifelong hunter and fisherman, and devoted companion to his beloved Brittany dogs. Growing up with Tony as your dad meant spending time in garages and on dragstrips, swinging on dragster roll cages, learning to change a tire before getting a driver’s license, playing with Brittany puppies, and spending hours with him in a deer blind or on a fishing boat. Tony taught his children to make popcorn on the stove and play pool like a pro. He rarely missed their sporting events and was instrumental in ensuring all his children graduated from college.
Tony is survived by his sister, Barbara Roy of El Campo; daughter, Lauran Pall and husband Rick McCoy of Victoria; son, Anthony Thomas (“Trey”) Pall III and wife Leslie of Victoria; daughter, Ashley Weathersby and husband Ralph of Port O’Connor; daughter, Allyson Coffman and husband Stephen of Victoria; and grandchildren, Mattalyne, Ty, Ava, Jaxson, Avery, Lara, and Aurora.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Thomas Pall Sr. and Lillie Mae Dornak Pall of El Campo, and his brother, Michael Stephen Pall of Corpus Christi.
Visitation will be held at Rosewood Funeral Chapel in Victoria on Friday, October 23, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Attendees are encouraged to join the procession in their favorite classic car, hot rod, or Chevrolet Corvette as we honor Tony’s life and commemorate his final ride. Reception to follow at Mitchell Event Center, 306 E. Commercial Street, in Victoria.
Pallbearers are Jaxson Coffman, Don Gomez, Nicholas Lacina, Jeff Lenhart, Trey Pall, and James Wearden.
Honorary pallbearers are Vernon Emken, Mag Gomez, Doug Jackson, Bill Koctar, John McColgan, Allan Miller, Abe Torres, and Bob Washmon.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Mehran Nezhad and Dr. Chelif Junor, who provided excellent medical care, comfort, and compassion to Tony, particularly in the last years of his life.
The family also wishes to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Allan Miller for being such a loving, devoted, and loyal friend to our father, sharing in the joyful moments of his life and standing faithfully by his side throughout his final illness. Thank you for holding his little girls’ hands as their daddy departed this life. Your friendship, compassion, and unwavering presence will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you for being there when it mattered most.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Joseph High School in his honor. And in true celebration of his life, share a cold one with someone you love, cast a line in your favorite fishing hole, or take a cruise down a backroad in your favorite car with a Hank Williams song turned up loud. However you choose to remember him, do it with a smile, a good story, and a little bit of mischief that Tony would appreciate.
