North Richland Hills loses a beloved physician, TAFP Physician Emeritus

TAFP life member David Pillow, M.D., passed away on May 24, 2014, at age 90. A true icon in the Tarrant County community, Pillow practiced medicine in North Richland Hills, Texas for over 50 years until 2006 when his health forced him to retire at age 83. The area boasts a city parked named after Pillow, as well as a senior health clinic.

Pillow was born June 9, 1923, in Austin and graduated high school in Fort Worth. He served as a pharmacist in the Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. After graduating first in his class from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., Pillow started a private practice in 1955 in North Richland Hills. He then helped found Glenview Hospital, later known as North Hills Hospital, and served as president of its board.

Pillow left private practice for a short time to serve as director of the Family Medicine Residency program at John Peter Smith Hospital from 1972 to 1978. He also served as the co-director of the nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas at Arlington and as a pharmacology instructor. From 1996 to 2000 he worked in the Senior Medical Clinic of North Hills Hospital, and in 2002 at the age of 78 opened the Pillow Medical Clinic in North Richland Hills.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Annabel, their five children, an older sister, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.  

> Read a tribute to Dr. Pillow written by his peer Justin Bartos III, M.D.