LOS ANGELES—Gregory Dillon, former vice chairman and a director emeritus of Hilton Hotels Corp., died February 18 at his home here. The well-known industry veteran was 86. Born in Chicago, Dillon ostensibly began his career with the lodging chain when he was hired as a lawyer by the legal firm that counseled HIlton. According to an Associated Press report, Dillon was instrumental in a 1954 merger with the Statler hotel chain for $111 million, an unheard of price for such a transaction. He joined the Hilton corporation in 1963 as an assistant to company founder Conrad Hilton. He had a strong working relationship with Hilton, as well as Hiltons son, CEO Barron HIlton, who retired from the company Dillon negotiated Hilton management contracts and established a corporate properties division that oversaw planning, financing and construction of Hilton projects, according to the report. He subsequently held other executive posts and in 1977 was elected to the corporations board of directors. He was named vice chairman and director emeritus in 1996. Since 1994, Dillion served as a director of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid. Dillon is survived by his wife, Jenine, three sons, two daughers and seven grandchildren. A remembrance will be held Sunday, March 1 at 5 p.m. at Gates, Kingsley & Gates Funeral Chapel, 1925 Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica, CA. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 2 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Ohio and Selby Aves. in Westwood, CA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either Saint Johns Health Center Foundation, 1328 22nd St., Santa Monica, CA 90404-2091, or Las Floristas, Inc., c/o Maggie Simms, 10071 Valley Spring Lane, Toluca Lake, CA 91602.
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