VIDEO: Roy Hill Mossy Creek Conversation
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's first two sport All-American and C-N Athletics Hall of Famer Roy Hill passed away Monday morning at the age of 80.
Inducted into the Carson-Newman Hall of Fame in 2002, Hill helped the baseball program win the athletic department's first national championship in 1965, while helping the men's basketball team go to the NAIA Final Four in 1964. Hill earned All-America honors for both sports.
"Roy is a legend who just recently came back to visit with Clyde Wright," Carson-Newman head baseball coach Tom Griffin said. "He was so humble and loved talking about his times and experiences with Carson-Newman. What a great gentleman who will be sorely missed."
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge.
"Getting to know Roy over the years and becoming friends with him has meant a whole lot to me," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "He's been incredibly supportive of our program, reaching out multiple times and coming to Jefferson City to visit, including just a couple weeks ago. This news is heartbreaking. We wish his family nothing but peace in their time of loss."
Hill was a member of the NAIA National Championship Baseball Team and was named to the Carson-Newman Basketball Team of the Century. A true student-athlete, Hill came to Carson-Newman without any athletic scholarship. He still owns the school record for highest free throw percentage in a season, shooting a sparkling .905 (105-116) from the charity stripe in 1964-65. He only missed 19 free throws over the course of his collegiate career.
He worked for Castleton State College in Vermont and the University of North Carolina in Greensboro before being employed by and retiring from Louisiana State University where he worked for almost 40 years.
He worked primarily as an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology but also coached varsity basketball at LSU University Laboratory School and served in the LSU Department of Recreational Sports.
He was a longtime high school basketball official where he also served as the officials' association President. For a number of years Roy served as a SEC Women's Basketball official. Besides his daughters and grandchildren his number one passion was golf. One of his favorite golf experiences was caddying at the Masters Golf Tournament for his friend and former LSU Golf Coach Buddy Alexander, the Amateur Champion.
The family will receive guests at the church on Tuesday, November 14 from 9:00am to 10:30am. The Rev. Dr. Andrew Harmon, Senior Associate Rector of St. James Episcopal Church will officiate the services.
Survivors include Roy's daughter, Kelly Ann Hill and daughter, Katie Hill Kurz and husband, Dr. Benjamin Wade Kurz; grandchildren, George Wade Kurz and Caroline Ann Kurz known to them as Pops; niece Marcy Hill Mittendorf and husband Brad; nephew Roy E. Hill and wife April; nephew, James Gary Rogers, his sister-in-law, Katherine Hill, and his girlfriend Julie Staudenmaier.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents Shirley Everette and Bertha Burton Hill who were of Knoxville, Tennessee; his brother Ernest Lynn Hill; a sister, Martha Lou Rogers; niece, Stacy Burton Hill Patin, and a nephew James Gregory Rogers.
The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Special thanks to the many family and friends for their love and support. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
