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“Well done, good and faithful servant ...” Matthew 25:23 Gil A. Stricklin, Sr., a devoted husband, father, grandfather, patriot, and most importantly a follower of Jesus Christ, slipped peacefully into the arms of his Savior on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at his home in Dallas, TX. Gil was born on September 11, 1934, in Sadler, TX. His parents nicknamed him “Sunny”. Gil was the third of five sons in the Stricklin family who grew up in Denison, TX. When Sunny was twelve years old, he trusted Jesus Christ for his eternal salvation. He would joyfully serve him for the remainder of his life. Gil graduated from high school in 1953 and headed to Baylor where he was Freshman Class President, Baylor Yell Leader and served in the Baylor ROTC. In the fall of 1954, he met a brown eyed freshman girl from Fort Worth named Ann March. Gil enjoyed dating his Baylor beauty throughout his years at Baylor. He graduated in 1957 with a business degree and a commission in the United States Air Force. They were married on May 23, 1958, in Waco the day Ann graduated from Baylor and have been married for 65 years. As a commissioned officer he was stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base SC. Their first son, Gilford Arthur Stricklin, Jr. (Art) was born there. After three years on active duty in the Air Force, including a tour to Antarctica, the family moved back to Fort Worth where Gil attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and received a ministerial degree. At the same time, he attended Texas Christian University and received a degree in journalism. He also worked for the Fort Worth Press and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspapers. Their second son, Clifford Benjamin Stricklin (Cliff) was born in 1964. After graduation from seminary in 1965, Gil was invited to join the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to serve in preparation for the upcoming World Congress on Evangelism and as a special assistant to Dr. Graham. For the following six years Gil traveled the world with Dr. Graham setting up press conferences for the evangelist and working with the media. The opportunity to meet Christians all over the world and work with the Billy Graham team was a major influence for his future ministries. In 1970, the family moved to Dallas where he went to work for the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), leading the hugely successful Super Summer Youth Evangelism Program which is still in place today. He then moved from the Air Force to the Army and became an Army Chaplain. During his military career he served as a chaplain in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College in 1973. In 1983, he graduated from the US Army War College, only the 7th Chaplain to do so. Also, in 1983 he received a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1986 he graduated from the National Defense University in Washington, DC. During his active-duty Army service, Chaplain Stricklin officiated nearly 100 funerals at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia where he will also be laid to rest. During his 15 years with the BGCT, Gil also went to flight school and achieved both his instrument and multi engine rating pilot licenses. In 1994, he retired as a full Colonel from the US Army, after serving his country for 37 years - 15 years in the Air Force and 22 years in the Army. In 1983, Gil and Ann stepped out in faith, quit his job with a steady paycheck and founded Marketplace Ministries, which offers the same chaplain care to business employees that the US Military offers to soldiers. The first office was Gil’s 1974, faded blue Datsun station wagon. The organization now serves more than 1,000 companies with 1.2 million employees being served by 2,210 chaplains. Thousands have chosen to trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Gil was a member, prayer partner and deacon at First Baptist Church in Dallas for 53 years. He was a motivational speaker, sometimes working with Zig Zigler. As a Distinguished Alumni at Baylor University, he was a devoted fan of all sports having seen many Bears’ wins and highlights in person. Gil enjoyed playing golf in the fellowship of his sons and his friends. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann March Stricklin; sons Art and his wife Belinda, of Dallas, TX. and Cliff and his wife Christy, of Denver, CO; grandchildren Allison, Ashley, Cal and Colton; and one brother Charles Stricklin, of Newport, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents Lessie Watson and Gilford Lane Stricklin and three brothers, Don, Jerry, and Jimmy Stricklin. Services will be Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 2:00PM in the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas in downtown Dallas. A chapel service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Fort Meyer Old Post Chapel, 204 Arlington Ave, Fort Meyer, VA 22211 with retired Brigadier General Bob Page officiating. A committal service with full military honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made and sent to Marketplace Chaplains – Founder’s Endowment; 2001 West Plano Pkwy, Ste 3200; Plano TX 75075. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center. Here is the link to livestream his service https://vimeo.com/event/3707570.

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Gilford Arthur Stricklin

September 11, 1934 - September 10, 2023