Gill’s Fried Chicken Founder Passes Away

Allyn Gill (left) with his daughter Pam Gill-Kimrey (right)

BY: KEFF CIARDELLO, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

@Keff_C

The owner and founder of Gill’s Fried Chicken, Allyn Gill, passed away this morning (Saturday, September 20) after a long battle with cancer. His wife of over 60 years, Bess, and his family, were by his side when he passed at the age of 86.

“I worked alongside of Allyn with the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee,” said Melissa Jewett, our owner and publisher. “He loved San Marcos and its residents. It showed in his strong opinions concerning where we were headed as a community and only wanted the very best for San Marcos and Hays County He was very generous with local donations from Gill’s Fried Chicken to everyone who approached him. Allyn was kind hearted and a smart business man that I greatly admired. I will miss him and it is an immense loss for our community.”

He came from cattle ranching parents, but Allyn and his wife Bess, settled in San Marcos and he set up a data processing service. Shortly thereafter, they started Gill’s Fried Chicken. There are several locations, including two in San Marcos, Big Spring, Snyder and Sweetwater, and Gil’s has been hailed as the best chicken in Hays County for years.

Along with owning his restaurant, Gill was an active contributor and local resident of San Marcos, where he was a San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Member, and was a founding member of the first San Marcos Airport Commission.

Final arraignments have yet to be finalized, and are being handled by Pennington’s.