Culinary Union executive Tillmon dies

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 | 8:50 a.m.

Vernon Wayne Tillmon Sr., a longtime Culinary Local 226 member who, despite his long battle with cancer, was elected vice president of the state's largest organized labor force last year, has died. He was 50.

Tillmon, who was to be buried today in Atlanta after services at Ash Street Holiness Church in his hometown of Macon, Ga., died Feb. 8 at a local hospice after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Local services were held Saturday at Second Baptist Church, 500 W. Madison Ave.

"So many of our members hold a special place in their hearts for Vernon because he cared so much for them and their union," said Culinary 226 Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor.

"He was truly an example of the very finest of the labor movement. He can never be replaced. We only hope to carry on in his tradition."

A replacement for the vice presidency post of the 45,000-member union has not yet been named.

Tillmon came to Las Vegas in 1973 as an airman stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. In 1979, he joined the union as a Caesars Palace housekeeping department employee. In 1985, Tillmon became a member of the Culinary Union staff as a business agent, initially representing the housekeeping departments at the Flamingo and the Holiday Inn, now Harrah's.

Eventually, Tillmon became a department head and was a senior member of the union's legal department at the time of his death.

Tillmon was born April 20, 1952, in Macon.

For 12 years he coached the Culinary Union Jaguars in Pop Warner football.

He also was a member of the National Bowlers Association.

Tillmon is survived by his wife of 29 years, Larnell Tillmon of Las Vegas; a son, Vernon Tillmon Jr. of Las Vegas; and a sister, Ametha Gail Folson of Wrightsville, Ga.