Richard "Dick" Hill

Tupelo – Tupelo businessman and civic leader, Richard “Dick” Hill, 81, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at his residence in Tupelo after a sudden illness.  A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, he was born June 14, 1937, to Arden Oliver Hill and Mary Clauson. Dick spent a number of his younger years living in Alverado, Minnesota but later moved to Dubuque, Iowa where he graduated from Dubuque High School.  He would later attend and play basketball at The University of Kansas and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon.

After college, he served eighteen months in the United States Marine Corp Reserve. In 1959, he relocated to Tupelo to help his father with his newly acquired Western Auto Store. In 1960, he joined the United States Marine Corp. After his father became ill with cancer and passed away, he began working at the family owned Hills Western Auto store full time to help his mother, sister Sharon and brother, Gordon who were still in high school. The small store would evolve over the years, with his younger brother becoming his partner and would later be named Hill’s Marine and Outdoor Sports. On July 24, 1960, he married the love of his life, Costa Homan, and together raised two children. He was a model father and husband and the love he had for his family will be felt for generations to come.

Not only was Dick a loving and caring husband and father, he was an influential leader within Tupelo and the Lee county area. His exemplary professionalism, loyalty, diligence, and service to his community will never be forgotten. He was an active member of many local organizations and was honored to serve on several boards and committees. In 1968, he received Tupelo’s Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award.

Dick served as a Community Board Member of BancorpSouth, member and Chairman of the Tupelo Planning Committee, member of the Tupelo Veterans Park advisory board where he served as Chairman of the Activities Committee, member and Chairman of Brice’s Crossroads Center board of directors and as Chairman of United Way, the Rural Community Development Council (RCDC), Tupelo’s Retail Trade Council and the Downtown Merchants Association. He served on the executive board of Tupelo’s American Legion Post 49 and was a life member of the Marine Corps League and the 40 and 8.

For four years, he served on the Lee County Council of Governments and was elected two terms to the Tupelo City Council and one term as Council President. Dick served as member and Chairman of the Yocona Area Council, past president of Mississippi Sportsmen’s Association, twenty years as a member and officer of the Tupelo Luncheon Civitan Club and Chairman of the Tupelo Airport Authority.  He also served on the state board of Keep Mississippi Beautiful, The Avenue of Magnolias and Tupelo Clean and Beautiful.  He had served on the Board of Directors of the Community Development Foundation and had served as 1979-1980 Chairman. Dick loved Tupelo and Lee County’s history and enjoyed sharing his extensive knowledge and research while serving on the Lee County Historical Committee preserving Tupelo and Lee County history and co-authored the book “Tupelo, Images of America.”

For 12 consecutive years, he was the director of Tupelo’s Christmas Parade, served 24 years with the Boy Scouts of America on a troop level and holds the Boy Scouts coveted Silver Beaver Award and was a licensed pilot and

Dick was a member and elder of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where he served fourteen years as treasurer, four years as Church President and also taught Sunday school.

He is survived by his wife, Costa Homan Hill of Tupelo; daughter, Holly Hill Crowder (Richard) of Madison; son, Chris Hill (Blake) of Oxford; five grandchildren, Hardin Crowder (Julie) of Vicksburg, Pierson Crowder of Madison, Addison Crowder of Madison, Margaret Hill and Arden Hill both of Oxford; sister, Sharon Hill James of Piggott, Arkansas; and many nieces and nephews.                    .

Preceded in death by his parents, Arden O. and Mary Hill; and brother, Gordon Hill.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Jim Homan, Mark Montgomery, Ty Hill, Brent James, Clay Hill, Shane Homan, Michael Montgomery and Patrick Homan.

Visitation will be 4 until 7 p.m. Friday, March 15, 2019 at W.E. Pegues, Tupelo.

Services honoring his life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor David McCain officiating. Burial will follow in Pontocola Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Salvation Army, 527 Carnation Street, Tupelo, MS 38804.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .