About Thomas Schilli
Upon his death in 2021, Thomas R. Schilli, SLUH ‘64, established the Thomas R. Schilli Foundation to support local Jesuit schools and their partners in providing educational opportunities for underserved children in his hometown of St. Louis.
Thomas graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1964. He attended Marquette University and St. Louis University and served in the Marine Corps. Thomas often credited Jesuit education, and the scholarships that gave him those opportunities, as critical to his success. “I grew to respect the education the Jesuits provided me. Like all young men, not while I was getting it, but many years after that. I feel it is important that other people have the opportunities I was given. My parents had very limited education and instilled in me the importance of education, which was proven to be true through my business career.”
In 1961, his father, Bernard, founded Schilli Motor Lines, Inc. Thomas purchased Schilli Motor Lines and relocated the business to Delphi, Indiana, in 1969. Schilli began his career operating six tractors and managing a small group of independent operators who leased from Schilli Motor Lines, Inc. Over the next five decades, Thomas transformed the small business into Schilli Transportation Services, Inc., Schilli Distribution Services, Schilli National Lease, and Schilli Specialized, which operated tractors, flatbeds, and vans, employed over 700 people, and generated $100 million in gross revenue. In 2018, Thomas won the Truck Fleet Innovators award for his many contributions to the industry during his 50-year career, from introducing ultralight trailers, to advocating for the concept of home on the weekends for drivers, to creating a “tiered” program for training the next generation of technicians with Schilli National Lease.
Thomas’ love for St. Louis never ceased. He continued his membership with the Missouri Athletic Club years after he had left St. Louis. Thomas loved to drive thru SLUH, eat his meals on the Hill, and watch Cardinals baseball at every opportunity. His commitment to expanding opportunities for underserved young people through Jesuit education will leave a lasting legacy in the St. Louis community.