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MCH President to Retire

Bobby R. Gilliam, president and chief executive officer at Methodist Children’s Home, announced his plans to retire during a meeting of the Home’s Board of Directors on Feb. 26. Gilliam, who has served as MCH president since 2003, is battling Parkinson’s disease. His retirement date will be discussed with and agreed upon by the MCH board of directors.
       
“I certainly feel sadness that the effects of Parkinson’s have led me to this decision,” said Gilliam, 57.  “I wish I had many more years to serve in this ministry. However, my sadness is outweighed by my great joy at the thought of the increased opportunities I will soon have to spend time with my loved ones and the realization of the great honor it has been to lead this special ministry.”
       
During his tenure as president, MCH increased the number of children in daily care from 500 to more than 1,400, strengthened its endowment fund, added a residential program in Waxahachie, and expanded services offered in communities throughout Texas and New Mexico. In addition, the Home joined the University of Texas charter school system, added an athletics program for youth on the Waco campus and Boys Ranch, built a recreation and activities center at its Boys Ranch, and implemented a plan to remodel the home units on the historic Waco campus.
       
“As I reflect on what the Home has accomplished during my time as president, I am reminded that God is amazing,” Gilliam said. “Opportunities to implement innovative programs to better serve children and expand our services testify that God has His hand on this special ministry.  I am also grateful for our staff members who work tirelessly to serve the boys and girls in our care, for the many benefactors who provide their financial support to this ministry, and for the loyalty and faithfulness of United Methodists.”
       
A native of Robinson, Tex., Gilliam is the ninth president in the Home’s 120-year history. He has served MCH for more than 30 years during his career in child care. He joined the staff in 1973 and quickly rose through the ranks, serving in a variety of child care roles at MCH as well as other agencies. He served nine years as vice president for child care at MCH in the 1990s. He served three years as director of Mooseheart Operations at Mooseheart Child City and School in Illinois before returning to MCH as president in 2003.
       
Gilliam has earned widespread respect from child care professionals across the country. In 2006, he was named Administrator of the Year by the Coalition for Residential Education (CORE) for his contributions to child care at the national level.  As a member of its Board of Directors, Gilliam played an important role in helping CORE develop its national standards for residential excellence.
       
He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of Certified Social Workers and a Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. He is a peer review team leader for the Council on Accreditation and has conducted workshops, seminars and training presentations at the local, state and national levels. Gilliam earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Baylor University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington.
       
Gilliam and his wife, Linda, have three children: son, Luke, and his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Caroline, of McKinney; and daughters Rebekah Gilliam of Austin and Leah Gilliam of Mesquite. Gilliam’s parents, Bobby Joe and Roma Gilliam, live in Robinson.