Kevin J. Lilly

Kevin J. Lilly has served as chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission since 2017. He was a founding partner of Avalon Advisors, the largest privately owned wealth management firm in Texas. In 2023, Avalon merged with CI Financial, the nation’s largest independent wealth advisory firm.

Prior to founding Avalon in 2001, Lilly spent five years in Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management Division, assisting the company in starting its first Private Wealth office in Texas. From 1989 to 1996, he was with Goldman Sachs’ Private Wealth Management Division, first in New York and then in Houston.

Lilly was commissioned as a Lieutenant (Cavalry) in the U.S. Army via ROTC at the University of Texas at Austin. He served as a tank platoon leader and tank battalion staff officer and had one overseas deployment. Lilly left federal service as a captain. He was appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2009 to serve as a regent of the Texas State University System, serving on the Finance and Audit Committee, as well as serving as chairman of the Texas State University System Foundation Board until 2015. Lilly has published articles on project finance and military tactics.

In addition, Lilly has served as a board member and trustee for several organizations, including the Houston Symphony, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Houston Methodist Hospital Academic Institute, and Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston. He currently serves as a colonel in the Texas State Guard and commanded the 8th Regiment during Hurricane Harvey.

Lilly currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Southwestern University in Georgetown. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas and a master's degree from Southern Methodist University. He resides in Houston and is married with three children.

Lilly’s term as chairman is set to expire on Nov. 15, 2027.