General Discussion

Tillis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the son of Margie and Thomas Raymond Tillis, a boat draftsman.[8] He was the oldest boy among six children, with three older sisters. By the time he was 17, his family had moved 20 times, living in New Orleans and Nashville, among other places; Tillis never attended the same school in consecutive years.[9] Tillis, his father, and his two brothers are all named Thomas Tillis.[10] One of his brothers, Thomas "Rick" Tillis, served in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Following his 1978 graduation from high school, Tillis left home to get a job.[11] He then attended Chattanooga State Community College before receiving a Bachelor of Science in technology management from the University of Maryland University College in 1986.[9][11][12]