2013 Distinguished Alumnus
Mr. Terry Pillow was born on April 6, 1953, Poplar Bluff, Mo., because there was no hospital in Corning. He grew up in Corning, Ark. and followed his older sister, Dianne, to Conway to attend the State College of Arkansas, renamed the University of Central Arkansas in 1975.
While at UCA, Pillow was an active member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity and class officer. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1976. He worked full time at Browning and White, a Conway men’s clothing store. Following graduation, he traveled to Dallas, made a wrong turn, and met Mr. Stanley Marcus who then selected him for a position at Neiman Marcus in their executive training program.
Pillow has achieved outstanding success in business. He has worked his way up through the ranks in the clothing industry to his current position as Chief Executive Officer of Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., which has more than 1,500 employees and approximately $500 million in sales revenue. He has served as CEO of Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Oxford Industries Inc. since 2008.
Prior to that, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ralph Lauren Footwear Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Reebok International Ltd. He also served as the President of Collection Clothing Corp., Senior Vice President of Reebok International Ltd. and the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Rockport Company.
Prior to joining Reebok International Ltd., he served as the President of the apparel division of Coach Leatherware, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corporation. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Pillow served as the President of A/X Armani Exchange,
New York.
Pillow and his wife, Kelley, live in Seattle Wash. with their young son, Sam.
