Bobby Ellis Gilliam

Bobby Ellis Gilliam (aka Peepaw) passed away to be with the Lord at age 87 on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Montclair Park Assisted Living in Shreveport, Louisiana. His parents were the late Ellis and Trena Gilliam; he was an only child and raised in Monticello, Arkansas. Bobby is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife, Margaret Tindall Gilliam, to whom he was married for 69 years; three sons, Bobby S. (Lana) Gilliam, Mark E. (Anita) Gilliam, and W. Craig (Martha) Gilliam; five grandchildren, Bobby S. Gilliam, Jr., Corey (Molly) Gilliam, Katen Gilliam, M. Craig (Mia) Gilliam, W. Blake Gilliam; and three great-grandchildren, Ryder Padget, Austin Gilliam, and John Mark Gilliam. Bobby was recruited and attended the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship under head coach Bowden Wyatt. From 1952 through 1955 these Razorbacks, known as '25 Little Pigs, won the Southwest Conference in 1954 and played in the Cotton Bowl in January 1955, finishing in the Top 10. They earned back-to-back wins over the University of Texas in Austin and highly ranked Ole' Miss in Little Rock. The '25 Little Pigs were inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame as was Coach Bowden Wyatt. They are known as the team that established University of Arkansas football, with stadiums being sold out regularly for the first time in the University of Arkansas history. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in geology. He and his wife, Margaret, settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1956, where he worked as a geologist, raised their family, and served in the community. Professionally, he was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Shreveport Geological Society. He attended Broadmoor United Methodist Church. His love and hobbies included, first and foremost, family and friends (he never met a stranger), athletics, especially when his family was involved, attending baseball games across the state and country. He was also a historian studying the Civil War and other conflicts and tracking the Gilliam family\'s genealogy. He regularly reminded the family that \"We are Gilliams.\" The family would like to thank Nikki, Francine and Michelle for their attentive care to Bobby in these last months as a resident at Montclair Park. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA on Monday, June 6, 2022. Officiating the service will be Reverend Dr. Greg Davis. A visitation will be held prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. The family suggests that memorials may be made to Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Dr., Shreveport, LA 71105 or a charity of your choice. \"May the road rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, may the sunshine warmly upon your face, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.\"