Thomas Murphy Pilkington
Thomas Murphy Pilkington, founder and band leader of the Pineywood Playboys, passed away in Breckenridge, Texas, on Aug. 20, 2025, his 91st birthday.
Tom was born on August 20, 1934, in Huntington, Texas, to Clarence Pilkington and Earline Erwin Pilkington. He attended Huntington schools, and for several years in the 1950s, Tom and his band, the Pineywood Playboys, aired live country music shows from the studios of KRBA and KTRE in Lufkin.
He also worked as a country disc jockey at KNRO in Conroe and KHUL in Houston. He formed another band, the Southern Playboys, and they played the club and honky-tonk circuits. He signed with Jet Records in 1955 and recorded with his cousin and singing partner, Annie (Pilkington) Mathews. He later teamed up with singer Mollie (Polly) Williams, a former Huntington resident and disc jockey at KSPL in Diboll. Playing mostly on weekends while working at regular day jobs, they appeared at country music venues in the Gulf Coast area. Tom’s last professional musical appearance was in the 1970s with Miss Gay Moon at the Ridgewood Hotel’s Petroleum Club in Beaumont.
In 1955, Tom married Dorothy McCormick, and they had four sons, Thomas, Tony, John and Robert. In 1964, he married Linda Dove, and they had daughter Cheryl. Tom spent the last 40 years of his life with his wife Alice Blakeburn Pilkington, who preceded him in death in 2020.
In addition to working in the music and radio business, Tom spent 40 years in the engineering industry with such companies as Gulf Interstate Engineering; Brown & Root, Inc.; Wilcrest Engineering; and LeTourneau Inc. From 1969 to 1982, he owned and operated Interstate Technical Associates, a consulting firm offering contract design and engineering technical services to the pipeline and petrochemical industries.
He wrote a monthly column for the Huntington Herald for more than 20 years. His main interests were music, writing, photography and East Texas history.
In 2003, Tom and Alice moved to Stephens County, Texas, making their home on Hubbard Creek Lake.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Alice; and his brother John Ellis Pilkington.
He is survived by his sons, Thomas Wayne Pilkington and wife Michelle of Magnolia, Tony Pilkington and wife Carla of Breckenridge, John Pilkington and wife Cynthia of Houston, and Robert Pilkington of Texas City; daughter Cheryl Pilkington of Pearland; six grandchildren, Alicia Tian and husband Darren, Miranda Thomas and husband James, Chris Pilkington and wife Kelly, Tommy Pilkington and wife Stephanie, Anna Pilkington, and Brandon Pilkington; six great-grandchildren Nathaniel, Eliana, Hudson, Haven, Kailyn, Bailey and Kyndall; and his brother Clay Homister.
The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Haven Health and Rehabilitation Center for taking care of Tom during his final days.
As per Tom’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no service is planned at this time.
Memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s name directly to the Stephens County Humane Society.
