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featured alumni
In memory of David Hill, Sr. 1939 - 2019 By: Dave Hill Jr.
Born in
Springfield Missouri, Dave Hill Sr. attended Marquette
High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. before heading west to Idaho to visit his Grandfather “Poppy” in Pocatello. Hill loved fly fishing and hiking so he spent his first day at Idaho State University in the forest ranger program. Though he quickly reoriented his studies to business and economics. Hill credited his Economics 101 class with Fritz Hoffman (aka Corky) for igniting his passion for education and more specifically business management. Legend has it that Hill was voted “College Campus Dream Man” and was
experiences, Hill would be quick to credit the Army’s training and people-
recognized as the biggest man on campus at 6’4” 230lbs. Nonetheless,
first leadership lessons that he carried into his business life.
Hill loved sports and was a track star at Idaho State throwing shot put and
After leaving the Army, he started a career in sales and soon came to the
discus.
cardboard box industry, where he would devote the next 50 years. Staying
A natural leader, Hill joined the Army after attending ROTC classes as a
close to Idaho, Hill was hired by Boise Cascade first as a Salesperson and
second lieutenant and after basic training went to Germany where his
then worked his way up to General Manager of multiple plants. In 1981,
division was assigned to guard two Nazi Generals at the famous Spandau
Hill founded The BoxMaker, a sheet plant in the Seattle area which grew
Prison. After four years of service, Hill was ready for civilian life, but the
steadily over 38 years under his watch with over 200 employees, seven
Army had other plans as they informed him he would be among the first
branch offices and an innovative approach to digital printing.
troops sent to Vietnam. Stationed in Pleiku and promoted to Captain, Hill
Hill also made it a priority to give back and was proud of the endowment
had 50 troops under his responsibility and saw plenty of action throughout
he established at ISU. He wanted these funds to help future business people
his tour, earning both a Bronze Star and Air Medal. When talking about his
empower themselves with an education they can take into their future.
