Hills recognized for service to Demopolis City Schools

Five years ago the Demopolis City Schools Board of Education authorized a plaque honoring the late superintendent Dr. Wesley Hill and his wife, Barbara, and named the tennis facilities at Demopolis High School in their honor.

The plaque was duly made and then forgotten.

Four years ago Blaine Hathcock, then principal of Demopolis Middle School, found the plaque at the School Board office and delivered it to the high school.

Again, it was forgotten.

When Hathcock became interim principal at Demopolis High this month, he rediscovered the plaque in storage and was determined to make sure it wasn’t forgotten again.

Hathcock said honoring the Hills was personal to him. His father and Dr. Hill served as school superintendents at the same time and were close friends.

“It was something that needed to be done,” he said.

Tuesday morning Barbara Hill and her family, Supt. Kyle Kallhoff and former board member Gary Holemon gathered at the high school tennis courts to see the plaque for the first time. Although they had known something was being done, they had no idea how large the plaque was. Hathcock had it mounted on a sturdy pedestal outside the gates to the courts.

Dr. Hill, who died in 2013, served as superintendent of Demopolis City Schools from 1980 to 2007. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest serving superintendent in the state of Alabama.

“Our family is very appreciative,” said Barbara Hill. “We worked here a long time and really enjoyed it.”

The Hills formed the tennis program at DHS and strove for equality in girls’ sports in the school system. Barbara Hill coached the tennis team to several state championships.