Representative Philip B. Hill View All Years

PHILIP B. HILL

Philip Bonner Hill was born on May 1, 1931, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Philip Henry and Elizabeth Kerr Hill. He passed away on November 18, 2009, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Lily Ritchie Hill, of Shepherdstown; three daughters, June Fletcher-Hill, of Baltimore, Liz Hass-Hill, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Marian Hill Bergdolt, of Raleigh, North Carolina; seven grandchildren, Paul, Colin, Will, Kay, Adam, Grace, and Michael; and his sister, June Hill Peck, of Charles Town.

Hill was raised in Charleston and later Sistersville. He graduated from Williston Academy, in Easthampton, Massachusetts and went on to attend Princeton University, where he majored in politics. He was a member of the University Cottage Club and NROTC. After graduation he served two years active duty with the United States Navy. He married Lilly Ritchie of Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Hill attended the College of Law of West Virginia University, following his service in the Navy, where he became a loyal member of Phi Kappa Psi. After practicing law in Charleston for eight years, he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to accept a position on the legal staff of the Equitable Life Insurance Company.

Hill was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1970, serving two terms and in 1974, he was elected to the Iowa Senate. During his legislative career he was a major proponent of women’s rights and was recognized by the Des Moines Register as the most effective legislator in 1978.

In 1979 he became an adjunct faculty member of Drake University Law School. He became actively involved with the West Virginia Bar and was President of the West Virginia Bar Association from 1998-1999.

Hill supported numerous charitable and alumni organizations, including serving on the board of the Orchard Place-Des Moines Children’s Home and West Virginia Hospitals East. He was a dedicated Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as an elder and taught Sunday school for Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church.

He completed the Pittsburg Marathon on his 57th birthday.

Hill was a Polk County Republican. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1971-1974 during the 64th and 65th General Assemblies. He served in the Iowa Senate from 1975-1978 during the 66th and 67th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Philip B. Hill, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

MATT MCCOY

JACK WHITVER

BRAD ZAUN

Committee