“Don” Hill is a graduate of O. L. Price High School . Don also volunteered to serve a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps and received an honorable discharge as a Sergeant.
Prior to his political career, Don was employed by Round Rock White Lime Company, Austin White Lime Company, Alcoa, and with Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities, Inc., from 1969 to 1996. He started as director over the Taylor Neighborhood Center facility , and when he left in 1986, there were 7 different center locations and numerous programs throughout the county. He worked in the social service area coordinating Neighborhood Center programs throughout Williamson and Burnet Counties. These programs provided a variety of activities for participants including Meals on Wheels, Senior Citizen’s Nutrition Center, weatherization of homes, distribution of commodities, summer recreation and after school programs for youth and adults. He organized food pantries and clothing distribution and was one of charter members of the Caring Place in Georgetown. (He worked with WBCO housing, youth development and VISTA Program in both counties). In 1986 Hill became full time transportation director for WBCO, heading up Section 18 of Public Transportation. Presently Hill is working as Director of Field Operations for CARTS where he also supervises the bus staff in five locations.
Dob Hill’s stepping stone to the City Council began in 1982 when he was asked to chair a committee appointed by the Taylor City Council to over see community development projects in South Taylor. This was the beginning of his journey. Mayor Hill addressed safety issues in South Taylor. The most critical issue addressed was to eliminate outdoor toilets which created a health hazard. The city awarded the committee $52,000 toward the work. At the end of that project, the city received a grant to repair streets in South Taylor and repair homes in areas from the MKT tracks on the east, to Doak Street on the west, Mustang Street on the south and Oak Street on the north. Approximately 85% of the streets were paved, curbed and homes were brought up to standards. Taylor was only one of a few cities in the nation that received this grant and special award.
Don Hill was elected to the City of Taylor Council in 1986 to 2016 and was elected Mayor 11 times.
Don is a life long member of Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church in Taylor, Texas where he has served as: Secretary of the church for over 30 years, Church Steward for 37 years and Chairman of the Church Board of Trustees for 16 years.
Other organization affiliations include Prince Hall St. Matthew Lodge #66 – Worshipful Master 1970 – 2003, Presently a member of Prince Hall Lodge #290-Lyon, Jr., Past Taylor Chamber Board Member, Capitol Area Planning Council of Government-Vice Chairman from 1986-1998, Chaired Resolution Committee in 1991 of the National Area Planning Council of Government in San Francisco, California, Texas Municipal League member from 1986 to present, Texas Municipal League Regional President 1991-1992, Texas Municipal League Board of Directors 1992-1994, Founding Officer & Board member of Taylor Economic Development Corporation (served 10 years), Blackshear/O. L. Price Ex-Student Association, President 1993-2001, Secretary of RC&D Resource Conservation & Development Board, Workforce Development Board and Served on the Texas Attorney General Advisory Board.
In 2003 Mayor Hill was awarded Taylor, Texas’ Citizen of the Year (Hill is the second African American in our community to receive this award since the beginning in 1943. He is second to Dr. J. L. Dickey who received same award in 1953; Don’s wife Leslie was named Citizen of the Year in 2008 making her the third African American and the only African American woman to receive the award. These awards also made Mayor Hill and wife Leslie the second couple in Taylor to receive this award. Named Steward of the Year of the Austin Capital district-2010 and has received numerous other accolades over the last 40 years from the Community of Churches, Attorney General’s Office, and various other organizations throughout the city, county and state.
Don and his wife Leslie have four children and five grandsons.