Eric Hilton

1933 - 2016

Eric Hilton
1933-2016
Las Vegas, NV:
Eric Michael Hilton, Vice chairman emeritus of Hilton Hotels Corporation, and youngest son of Conrad Hilton has passed away peacefully at the age of 83 at his home in Las Vegas on December 10th. 2016 with his devoted wife of 32 years, Bibi Hilton, by his side.
"I'm just an ordinary man with a rich man's name". Those are words Mr. Hilton often used to describe himself. He was born on July 1st 1933 in Dallas, Texas to Conrad Hilton and his wife Mary Adelaide Barron.
He is survived by his wife, his older brother Barron Hilton, four children, two stepchildren, eleven grandchildren as well as his two beloved dogs.
Eric Michael Hilton, youngest son of Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels Corporation, began his career in 1949 and worked his way up in the company retiring in 1997 as vice chairman emeritus after having held various key positions. Prior to his election to vice chairman in 1993, Mr. Hilton served as executive vice president and as a director of Hilton Hotels Corporation, as well as president of Conrad International Hotels.
The cities of Hong Kong, Houston and Las Vegas have all been home to Mr. Hilton and his wife before they settled permanently in Las Vegas in 2013.
Eric Hilton carried forth the philanthropic legacy of his father by passionately serving as a director for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation until the time of his passing. Mr. Hilton previously served on the seven-member international jury that selects the recipient of the annual $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize and as chairman of the board of the BEST Foundation for a Drug-Free Tomorrow. He also served as a director of the Little League Foundation of America for almost 45 years.
In 2007, with the support of his wife Bibi, Mr. Hilton founded Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas which quickly has become a nationwide model for hunger relief, being the youngest and fastest growing food bank in the country.
Mr. Hilton is also the founder of Nevada Medical Center, a non-profit organization focusing on enhancing the health status of people residing in and visiting Nevada by modeling the success of the Houston Medical Center.
He leaves behind a legacy of education in the hospitality industry through the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, which was founded after a recommendation made by Mr. Hilton to his father in 1969.
Mr. Hilton has been honored with numerous awards, including the Alumni President's Award and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Houston, as well as the American Vocational Association Award of Merit.
"I can think of no greater God-given responsibility we have than that of extending a helping hand to our fellow man."- Conrad Hilton
Mr. Hilton lived those words of his father and carried forth his legacy of leaving this world a better place for the ones in need.
In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Hilton encourage donations to be made to Three Square Food Bank (www.threesquare.org) in her husband's honor. A reception and a celebration of his life will be held at Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas at a later date.