L.D. Hilton

L.D. “Bill” Hilton, 88, passed away May 13, 2014, in Abilene, Texas. A memorial service will be held at Hillcrest Church of Christ on Friday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m., with burial at 2:00 p.m. at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 7457 West Lake Road in Abilene. Visitation with the family will be 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the church building. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Bill was born Sept. 23, 1925, in Rocky, Okla., and graduated from Rocky High School in 1942. He served with the U.S. Army Air Force in the South Pacific from 1943-46 and married Alvah Jean Henderson of Waco on March 31, 1947. He graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree and earned a Master of Education degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1952. He received an honorary doctorate from Amber University in Dallas in 1990, and also attended Oklahoma State University. Bill was a teacher and coach at Bayfield (Colo.) High School and worked in the business and sales departments of Meggs Company and Montgomery Ward before beginning a legendary 57-year administrative career at Abilene Christian University, where the Hilton Room (1991) and Hilton Food Court (2007) in the McGlothlin Campus Center were later named in his and Alvah Jean’s honor. He began work at Abilene Christian in 1950 as instructor of business administration and accounts payable clerk. He went on to become assistant bursar (1952), assistant professor of business administration (1956), assistant business manager, business manager (1969), vice president of finance (1970), vice president of finance and administration (1990), and vice president (1992). He was named vice president emeritus in 1990 and officially retired in 2007 as vice president emeritus for finance and administration. Bill created ACU’s first financial aid program for students; started a credit union, retirement fund and annual performance review program for faculty and staff; and made financial arrangements for landmark estate gifts to the university. Late in his career, he oversaw ACU’s investments in ranches and petroleum assets. His civic roles spanned coaching Eastern Little League baseball and election to the Abilene City Council (1980-83). He also was a board member of the Taylor Country Chapter of the American Red Cross, and excelled in various leadership roles for the Abilene Civitan Club, Texas District of Civitan International, the City of Abilene’s Board of Adjustment and its Planning and Zoning Commission, the Education Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Abilene Christian Schools PTA, the Abilene Christian High School Booster Club and Chorus Parents Club, and the Abilene Higher Education Authority. Bill served as a deacon at Graham Street Church of Christ, and a deacon and elder at Hillcrest Church of Christ, both in Abilene. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bernice Hilton; a sister, Vashti McColum; and a granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth Hilton. Among survivors are Alvah Jean, his wife of 67 years; two daughters, Mary Alice Horne and her husband, Clint, of Houston, and Lou Ann Riley and her husband, John, of Glasgow, Kentucky; two sons, Bobby Hilton and his wife, Nancy, of Nederland, and Don Hilton and his wife, Sheila, of Abilene; grandchildren Jennifer and Regan Baker, Shane Hilton, Brady and Stephanie Hilton, JuliAnne and Heath Huston, Marissa and Caleb Northrup, Rebekah and Brock Button, Rachel and Michael Martin, David and Jenny Riley, Pam and David Quill, and Missy and Hollis Millikin; and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the L.D. “Bill” and Alvah Jean Hilton Endowed Scholarship at ACU (Gift Records, ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132, acu.edu/giveonline), the General Scholarship Fund at Abilene Christian School (2550 N. Judge Ely Blvd., Abilene, Texas 79601), and the Zambia Medical Mission Fund (P.O. Box 3393, Abilene, Texas 79604).