Jack Hillyer

HILLYER Jack Hillyer, Ph.D., age 82, of Athens, died Sunday evening, November 15, 2009 at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital, Athens. He was born east of Murray City in Trimble Township, Athens County on June 4, 1927 to the late Joseph Howard Hillyer and Beatrice Sylvia (Phillips) Hillyer. He was a graduate of Murray City High School. During his senior year Jack enlisted in the US Coast Guard. Called to duty in the weeks prior to his graduation ceremonies from Murray City High School in 1945 he immediately reported for US Coast Guard duty where he served on the vessel Admiral Hughes (AF-124) for 14 months throughout the South Pacific in the final days of WW II. In late 1946 Jack enrolled in Ohio University. Three years later (1949) he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He also earned his Master's Degree in Education and his Doctorate in Education (Ph.D.) from Ohio University. A professional educator, Jack Hillyer dedicated his life to education and spent over 50 years in service to the schools throughout Ohio. He began his career as a professional educator in 1949 as a teacher at Murray City High School. He later moved to Lakeside, Ohio where he taught at Danbury Township School District. Three years later he accepted a position in Mount Sterling School District in Mount Sterling, Ohio. A distinguished athlete during his high school and college years, Jack imparted his passion for sports and service to his community to his students by serving as a basketball coach and assistant football coach at high schools in Murray City, Danbury Township, and Mount Sterling. While at Mt. Sterling School District he found his true calling, school administration. Jack moved on from his teaching and coaching duties at Mount Sterling High School to become the Executive Head of the Five Points School District. A few years later he then became the Superintendent of the York Local School District prior to the consolidation of Nelsonville City and York Local School Districts. Upon consolidation he was named the superintendent of Nelsonville York City Schools where he served as the school superintendent 3 times from 1963-1980 (17 years), 1984-1985 (interim superintendent), and again from 1989-1998. Jack retired in 1998. After his first retirement as the superintendent of Nelsonville York City Schools in 1984, Jack became a senior staff member for the Southeastern Ohio Vocational and Educational Consortium in Athens and also served as a senior advisor for the Ohio State Department of Education on school finance where he assisted schools that were experiencing budget shortfalls and financial distress. Jack's desire to serve his community, the residents of Athens County, and the people of Southeastern Ohio led him to run for the 17th District State Senate seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1976. Always working to build communities Jack spent 33 years of continuous service on the Board of Directors of the Hocking Valley Credit Union. He served for 17 of those years as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Athens County Teachers Credit Union and Hocking Valley Credit Union. In 1961-1962 he helped found the Athens County Teachers Credit Union. In 1971 he managed the merger of the Athens County Teachers Credit Union with the Royal McBee Credit Union. This merger created a credit union that served the residents of all of Athens County. The later merger with the Carborundum Employees Credit Union, prompted the name change to the Hocking Valley Credit Union. As the Chairman of the Board of Directors he led other mergers in the years that followed resulting in what became the Hocking Valley Credit Union serving residents throughout all of Southeastern Ohio. He retired from the Hocking Valley Credit Union Board of Directors in 2005. He served in many state and community organizations to include: Board member of the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Board of Directors for the State of Ohio, and numerous other community and civic organizations. He was also a member of the Athens First United Methodist Church, and the Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star in Mt. Sterling. As a professional educator, Jack considered one of his greatest contributions to education and his community to be the 1997 construction of the Nelsonville York Elementary School and the transformation of Poston Elementary School into a Junior High School for the Nelsonville York School District. After years of struggling with aging buildings and facilities experiencing structural problems he was able to secure $8.2 million from the State Department of Education Building Assistance Fund and facilitate taxpayer approval of a four-mil bond issue. This funding allowed for the construction of a state of the art educational facility integrating technology and multi-media into every classroom. The opening of this facility in 1997 was one of the proudest moments in Jack Hillyer's long career as a professional educator. Jack received many awards and honors during his 50 years of service as a professional educator. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 1/2 years, Patricia Jo Gilbert Hillyer of Athens; his son, Joseph Gilbert Hillyer (Marilyn Taboy Hillyer); and by his grandchildren, Joseph, Jacob, Matthew, and Stephanie Hillyer, all of Lakewood, Washington; brother, Harold Hillyer and wife, Eileen of Grove City; and sister, Mardell Campbell of Nelsonville. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; and his life long best friend, William "Bill" Wolfe. He was preceded in death by his son Steven Brice Hillyer, a brother Howard Hillyer, a sister Patricia Wagner and his parents Joseph and Beatrice Phillips Hillyer. Funeral service will be conducted Sunday 1 p.m. in JAGERS & SONS FUNERAL HOME, Athens with Rev. Mary Jo Yeakel officiating. Burial will be in West Union St. Cemetery. Friends may call Saturday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by K.T. Crossen Post 21 American Legion, VFW Post 3477 and VFW Post 9893 Honor Guards at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 2 South College Street, Athens, Ohio 45701. A note of condolence may be sent to the family or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com