Jack Edward Hill

Award winning television journalist Jack E. Hill died unexpectedly on July 12, 2012, at Baptist Health in Little Rock. He was born in Rogers, Ark., on May 18, 1940, son of the late Radus and Grace (Fields) Hill. Jack graduated from Rogers High School. He received his bachelor of arts degree in speech from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was a member of SAE fraternity. After serving as an officer in the Army for two years stationed in Germany, Hill earned his master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Jack worked as a television reporter in Denver, Colo., Jackson, Miss., and Dallas, Texas, prior to coming back home to Arkansas in 1975 and working as the news anchor and investigative reporter at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, where he remained for 10 years. During those years at KAIT, Jack was able to serve as the writer, producer and reporter for documentaries dealing with issues affecting Arkansans. These documentaries brought numerous local and national awards, both to Jack Hill personally and to KAIT, including two awards from the duPont-Columbia University Journalism Program; two nominations for a national Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; a citation from the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards competition; a certificate of merit from the American Bar Association; third place in public service reporting at the national awards competition of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi; the Broadcast Media Award from San Francisco University; a certificate of merit in the 14th annual Gabriel Awards Competition; and the investigative journalism award for TV stations under top 75 markets from Investigative Reporters and Editors. Former Sigma Broadcasting CEO Darrel Cunningham, who hired Jack at KAIT-TV and was station manager for a decade, said, "I remember Jack as a talented broadcaster who cared deeply about quality journalism. My proudest career moment came in New York when Jack accepted the duPont-Columbia silver baton from Robin McNeil in a room filled with media elite." After leaving KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Jack moved to Little Rock and formed his own company, TeleVision of Arkansas, under which he produced nearly 60 documentaries shown on statewide television. Jack Hill was a lifelong Methodist who always played an active role in his home church. In recent years, he had taken film crews to Russia to produce documentaries regarding the expanding role of the United Methodist Church in that country. He was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, having served on the Television Ministry, Missions and Administrative boards of the church. You could often see Jack out walking or jogging, as his health permitted, on the Big Dam Bridge or on Two Rivers Bridge. Jack is survived by Anne Powers Hill, his wife of 37 years, and a host of friends and business associates. Jack was especially grateful to his "cloud of witnesses" (as he called them) in Rogers. These close family friends and church members provided loving support to him following the death of his mother in January and his diagnosis of kidney cancer a few days later. Special gratitude goes to Bonnie Grimes, his mother's longtime close friend and fellow school administrator, who stepped in to make Jack's journey much easier during those very difficult days. A celebration of Jack Hill's life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 20, in the sanctuary of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock. A reception will follow in the church's parlor. A graveside service will be held in Rogers on Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at Benton County Memorial Park in Rogers, officiated by the Rev. Sandra Wanasek. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Jack E. Hill Television Ministry Endowment Fund at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave., Little Rock, AR 72205; to First United Methodist Church, 307 W. Elm St., Rogers, AR 72756; to Heifer Project International, One World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202; or to the Rogers Public Library, 711 S. Dixieland Road, Rogers, AR 72758. Cremation arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Rogers. Online condolences may be made at www.callisonlough.com.