Patrick Daniel Gilboy

1937 - 2025

Patrick Daniel Gilboy

November 29, 1937 - January 10, 2025

Butte, Mont. towing and repair business icon, Patrick Daniel Gilboy, age 87, passed away on January 10, 2025. "Get me a tow truck.", were some of his last words. Born in Butte on November 29, 1937, Pat and his twin brother, Michael, were born to George and Frances Gilboy. They grew up on B Street, attended local schools, and graduated from Butte Central High School.

Pat joined the United States Navy in 1954 and sailed on the USS Helena with his twin brother, Mike. This was the first time the Navy allowed two brothers to sail together on the same ship. After seeing enough of the post-Korean conflict, he returned to Butte. After working in the mines for a year, Pat was offered a position with the Butte Fire Department, where he worked as a driver and a firefighter. On nights and weekends, he played drums in a Country Western band. He also worked on cars with help from his father, who worked as a mechanic at the mines. That is where Pat got his start working on cars. In 1967, while playing music in Deer Lodge, Mont., he met his future wife, Shirley Hackman. After a year, they married and moved to Butte, where they started their lives together. In 1967, Pat also started his first repair shop in a one bay gas station near Matt's Drive-in. In 1968, Pat and Shirley started working together, running the Chevron Station on the corner of Platinum and Excelsior Streets. Their next move was in 1969, when Pat acquired a business partner and moved to Galena Street, starting P & R Safety Center. After a year, they moved to a bigger location, a Texaco station on Arizona and Front Streets. He quit the Butte Fire Department after 10 years to dedicate all his efforts into the gas station and repair business. It was at this Texaco station where Pat started servicing the Butte Postal Service Fleet. In order to service the Post Office Fleet, he needed a tow truck. This is what started the towing business. In 1971, Continental Oil Co. (Conoco) decided they needed to sell their retail gas stations. So, with Pat's partner unable to invest, Pat and Shirley went to "Big Bob" Simmons at Metals Bank to borrow the money to start Interstate Conoco at 2801 Harrison Avenue. In 1973, Pat bought his first large wrecker, a 16 ton. In 1974, he purchased a 25 ton, which got him into the heavy towing and recovery business. It also got him put on the heavy-duty wrecker rotation list. In 1975, Pat built a truck shop on the end of the gas station and started doing truck repairs. In 1979, Pat sold the 25 ton wrecker and bought a 40 ton wrecker, one of Pat's most important contributions to the towing industry. In the mid-80's, together with a group of fellow Butte towers wrote, and got passed through the Montana State Legislature, the Montana Tow Truck Act, which legitimized and standardized the Towing Industry in Montana. This Act is still in force today. In 1984, Pat's wife, Shirley, had her first heart attack. Not wanting to stress Shirley anymore, Pat accepted a good offer to sell the station and lease back the truck shop. He continued the towing and repair business, starting Gilboy's Towing and Repair. By the early 90's, Pat and Shirley's health began deteriorating. Shirley survived breast cancer and heart disease. Pat had his first heart attack and contracted diabetes. Even after all of that, they wanted to grow the business so that their family would have more opportunities. In 1994, they started working on buying 3.5 acres of land and constructing a 6000 square foot shop at 8 Dewey Boulevard. By 1995, they were open for business. Probably Pat's highest honor and favorite moment was in 1999 when his grandson, Brody Hackman, accompanied him to Chattanooga, Tenn., to be inducted into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame, an accomplishment few towers have achieved. In 2000, Pat lost his leg to diabetes. In 2002, Shirley passed away, and in 2004, Pat sold Gilboy's Towing to his stepson, and long-time employee, Lee Hackman and his family. Pat was able to enjoy his retirement by traveling, in his motorhome, back and forth to Yuma, Ariz., where he wintered with a group retired towers and new friends. In 2010, Pat had a massive heart attack, but after triple bypass surgery and with help from his many friends in Yuma, was able to recover. Not being able to travel as much, he spent the majority of his time in Yuma. While visiting Butte in 2018, Pat broke his hip. After a long recovery, he was able to return to Yuma with his friends. By 2023, Pat's health had further declined and he wanted to return to Butte to finish out his days, where he lived at the Southwest Montana Veterans Home until his passing.

Pat is preceded in death by his parents, George and Frances; his brothers, Michael and Joseph; and adopted sisters, Lovey and Clair. Though Pat never had children of his own, he is survived by his stepfamily, Lee (Collette) Hackman, Gail Duncan, and Kathy Hutchinson; and stepgrandchildren, Brody (Samantha) Hackman and family, Audrey, Cy, and Vivian, of Butte; Jenna (Mike) Hackman-Rolerson and family, Cooper and Wilder, of Maine, and Corey (Amanda) Bengtson and family, Ceailia and Isla, of Butte. He is also survived by his brother, Mike's children, Mark and Jimmy Gilboy; and his brother, Dr. Joe Gilboy's children, Michael, Susan, Julie, Timothy, Joey, and Daniel Gilboy.

Pat wanted us to give thanks to the V.A. and special thanks to the staff at the Southwest Montana Veterans Home for their compassion and care. He also wished to thank all his dedicated employees for the sacrifices they made as part of his businesses. Pat's family would like to thank all his cribbage playing friends at the Elk's Lodge in Yuma, and especially Donna Welsh-Angel who, in 2023, helped Pat in his recovery so that he could return to Butte.

At Pat's request, private entombment has taken place in the Columbarium at Mountain View Cemetery and no further services are planned at this time.