Colonel Thomas Arthur Hilquist (Retired)'s Obituary
Decatur – Colonel Thomas Arthur Hilquist (Retired), 83, of Forsyth, formerly of Park Ridge, IL, passed away, Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Hickory Point Christian Village.
Thomas was born January 27, 1934, in Chicago, the son of Vernard and Ruth A. (McKenzie) Hilquist. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1952 and entered the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in 1954. Colonel Hilquist received his pilot wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 1955. His first operational assignment as a pilot was to Pope AFB, NC, flying C-119s. In August 1956, he was stationed at Ashiya Airbase, Japan, where he flew as aircraft commander throughout the Far East.
In January of 1958 Colonel Hilquist was released from active duty and joined the Reserve’s 64th Troop Carrier Squadron at O’Hare Air Reserve Base IL. In 1960, he became operations officer of the “Combat Readiness Training” program at O’Hare. In 1963, after accumulating nearly 1,000 hours in the C-47 “Gooney Bird,” he became an Air Reserve Technician (ART). As an ART, for 16 years, he served as OPS and Training Officer, Squadron Commander and Director of Safety.
In August 1979, he began working for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an airspace system inspection pilot. In November 1979, he was assigned as the 928th Tactical Airlift Group Deputy Commander for Operations. In January 1981, he was assigned to HQ AFRES as State Preparedness Liaison Officer, with duty at Springfield, IL. On December 1, 1982, Colonel Hilquist was assigned Vice Commander of the 440th Tactical Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, General Billy Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, WI.
A command pilot, Colonel Hilquist has logged over 8,000 hours of flying time in a variety of military aircraft including C-130A, C-119G and C-47A.
His military decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Meal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve medal with Hour Glass, National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Thomas Hilquist retired from FAA in February, 1998 and started his consulting practice. He became the national expert in determining whether a proposed building near an airport had a conflict with airplane takeoffs and landings. He also was a consultant to FAA in the location of new airport towers. He retired from consulting in 2010.
Colonel Hilquist married Clara A. Richter of Morrisonville and she survives. He is also survived by his brother, David E. Hilquist; sister, Ruth Jackie Hodlick; eleven nieces and five nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate his life will be 11 am Friday, September 8, 2016 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Rev. Richard Weltin, celebrant; visitation will be one hour prior to the mass in the church. Burial with military rites will be 3 pm, Friday, September 8, 2017, in St. Maurice Cemetery, Morrisonville.
The family of Colonel Thomas A. Hilquist (Retired) is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2801 N. Monroe Street, Decatur, IL. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.moranandgoebel.com.
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