Leslie Mae Washington - Hill - Taylor South Eastside Project

Once the public facade of community involvement is peeled away, a private look at Leslie Mae Washington-Hill reveals a woman of rare conviction involved in a personal crusade to help youth stay in school and offer assistance to families in crisis.”

Taylor Woman ofthe Year 1994

Leslie is the daughter of Otis Mae and the late Leslie Washington and the oldest of five children. She was born in Taylor, TX and spent most of her life in Taylor with the exception of 2 ½ years. Her father worked for the first African American female mortician in the state of Texas, Mrs. Mays. She is a 1961 graduate of O.L. Price High School where she was a twirler from her seventh-grade year through her sophomore year. Her junior and senior year she was the drum major. As an eighth grader, she received the American Legion Honors Award and was named Freshman Queen, graduated in the top 10% of the class.

Upon graduating from high school in 1961, she married Donald R. Hill (former Mayor of Taylor for 11 years) and we moved to Washington, D.C. for 2 ½ years. She returned to her home town of Taylor, Texas. They are the proud parents of two sons and two daughters. With only a high school diploma, She was convinced the only way to educate their four children was to continue her own education process. To do this, she worked full time while attending night classes out of town to complete business school and to graduate from Nixon-Clay Business School. All four are first generation college graduates. One son graduated from North Texas State in Denton, TX, one daughter and one son from the University of Texas at Austin and one daughter from Texas Tech in Lubbock,TX. They are also proud grandparents of five grandsons She feel that one of her greatest achievements

Leslie was the first African American to work in our district office of TXU (formerly Texas Power & Light Company). She started out as a cashier and worked her way up to the District Manager’s Secretary, Administrative Assistant, and her last position was a Loan Lobbyist. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of TXU Erle Nye stated, “‘Leslie is very energetic, talented and positive person who puts everything she has into the task at hand.” “She makes friends easily and is well liked by everyone who knows her. Her record of community and civic service is truly exceptional.” Vice President Tom Blakely stated “Leslie’s personality can brighten and lighten any environment and she has never met a stranger.”

God blessed her to help transcend racial barriers in our community and county by keeping her hand on the pulse of today’s complex society, crossing racial barriers and promoting better communication and understanding among all races.

She is a member of the Taylor ISD Recruiting Team. She is also president of the Williamson County Juvenile Advisory Board and serve on the Williamson County Justice Judicial Council.

Leslie have served and chaired several state, county and city boards. She is very proud to have served as president of my local Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor of Rotary for three years, a Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, sang in the church choir and served as a trustee. She was instrumental in bringing the Head Start program to Taylor. Also, she counseled potential high school dropouts in the late 1960’s through the Department of Labor. In the absence of Mayor Don Hill, she presented ”The Key to the City” to Texas’ First Lady Laura Bush.

Leslie have been a guest columnist in our local paper and have been featured in several newspapers in central Texas including the Austin American Statesman. As a member of the National Women Political Caucus, she served as Vice President of Williamson County Women Political Caucus. As a member of the Taylor Chamber of Commerce, She was able to get Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelly to come and speak in Taylor. She was instrumental in getting Governor Ann Richards to proclaim at a Juneteenth Celebration “Bill Picket Day” in Taylor, co-sponsored the NAACP’s “Go to School – Stay in School Program in Taylor, Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader. She chaired the Williamson County March of Dimes Board and lobbied for children’s insurance. I have served as chairman of the Taylor YMCA board and served on the Greater Williamson County Board.

As avid Texas Longhorn fans, Don and Leslie were named Guest Coaches for the “Running Longhorns.” Leslie was named one of Texas Women of Distinction. She was named Taylor Outstanding Woman of the Year in 1994 and was honored by the Senate of the State of Texas with Senate Resolution #253 for her efforts in working in the community and with youth of the community.

She has served as a guest soloist and speaker for different programs and for programs within the county. My most effective speech was given to the Texas Youth Council on drug awareness and involvement in the community.

At age 64, she graduated from St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, Missouri with honors in Funeral Directing. She manage and is vice president of “A Life Celebration by Franklin in Taylor.

She love reading and traveling, My enthusiasm is for living and my appreciation is of others.

At age 64, she graduated from St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, Missouri with honors in Funeral Directing. She manage and is vice president of “A Life Celebration by Franklin in Taylor.

She love reading and traveling, My enthusiasm is for living and my appreciation is of others.