Howard Park Hill was born on June 28, 1899 in Tilden, Bingham County, Idaho. He was the son of David Hill and Emma Flora Wheeler Hill.

His childhood was spent in the Bingham County area. He attended first grade at the Irving School the year after it was completed. All of his elementary schooling was in and around Blackfoot. School was always exciting for him, and no matter how hard he had to work he always had fun, too, at school. I remember a little incident he related about when he was in the fifth grade. There were many such incidents that he used to tell and I wish I could remember them all. But this happened one day while he was sitting in school. He sat in a double seat (two seats right together that were fastened to the floor). He was sitting with a girl about his own age, who later became his brother's wife, Georgia Neville. They were gazing out the window, which faced the railroad tracks, instead of getting their lessons. All at once the train pulled in and stopped. They saw two people get off the train and they laughed and snickered at how weird they looked. The man was big and fat, and his wife was thin and little. The man jumped off the train with a small bundle in his arms. He was dressed like a clown, they thought as they laughed again, and then came his wife in a funny red skirt with a purple waist carrying a huge suitcase about twice her size. The big man strode on ahead about ten paces in front of the little lady who would have to run to keep up with him. The school kids became more interested and Howard and Georgia were snickering behind their books. Howard then whispered to Georgia, "I wonder who in the world those nutty people are coming to see." They watched them until they were out of sight and then went on with their studying. When Howard went home after school that day the first ones to greet him were that couple who had got off the train. They were some of his relatives who had come to spend a couple of weeks, and the sad part of it was, he said, that he had to give up his bed for them to sleep in.

He was a champion marble player and, because he was "chubby", his role was always Santa Claus in the Christmas programs. He graduated from eighth grade on August 31, 1914.

He filled a mission a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Southern States when he was nineteen years old, serving under President Charles A. Challis.

On May 18, 1924, he graduated from the L. D. S. Business College in Salt Lake City and became an accountant.

He married Rhoda Homer, a school teacher in Wapello, on Dec. 23, 1925. They made their home in Pocatello, where he was a cashier in the First National Bank. He left this job for higher wages at the Idaho Glass and Paint Company. While working here he walked fourteen blocks to work and insisted he'd rather walk home for his lunch at noon. While living in Pocatello he had many places of employment. He learned to do many kinds of work, but always looked forward to the time when he could own his own business. Next he worked for the Pocatello Gas Co. As their head accountant and then on to Trist Auto Company where he became their head salesman. He had a good way of talking people into things and it wasn't long until his commissions far exceeded his wages. He liked this work very much. He would have been there many years longer if the company hadn't gone out of business. His next venture was in the dairy business. That was in 1930 when the depression was on. He rented a barn across the hill in the sagebrush from where we lived on 14th Street, and here he started to work. It was from early morning to late at night every day. With some fencing and fixing up everything was in good shape to shelter the cows. He bought hay brought in by Indians from the reservation.

He had many friends among the Indians. He always treated them fair and square. He would go over the hill night and morning to milk the cows. I remember of him selling a cow and a calf once for $12.50 when we were in need of some ready cash. Times were hard then. Everything was below it's value. That was the depression. Anyway that same cow and calf or one like it would sell for more than $1500 now, just a difference in the time we live in.

Howard built a small building in our back yard for a milk house. He equipped it with a pasteurizer and a milk bottler, which we were soon able to pay for. He bought a panel truck to deliver the milk in. He sold by the case to the stores, but worked up a good retail business all over Pocatello. One time the bottle washer broke down and we had to hand wash all the bottles and sterilize them in boiling water. That was a job!! Howard was determined to make a go of it and we all worked early and late.

He licensed the dairy under Home Dairy. Mr. Day, a state inspector, called on us frequently and would always inform us of some new regulations. Howard attempted to keep up with them all. Milk retailed at that time for ten cents a quart (whole milk in glass bottles with a cream line half way down the bottle) and whipping cream sold for fifteen cents a pint.

One day his cows got out of their corral and the game warden locked them up. Merlin, Howard's youngest brother, was staying with us then and going to school. Howard was away that day and Merlin didn't know quite how he should handle the situation. But he went over and unlocked the gate of the stray pen and drove the cows home. Some heated argument with the Game Warden followed, but Merlin told him he wasn't stealing anything - just taking what belonged to us. When Howard returned everything turned out fine. Howard always appreciated Merlin. He was his "right-hand man" on many occasions. They did many things together, such as break horses and brand cattle.

In 1932 the family moved back to Blackfoot, buying a farm at Riverside, where he spent the rest of his life. He operated the Bingham Motor Company on Bridge Street in Blackfoot, and became one of the founders of the Blackfoot Auction and Commission Company. He was Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, and later bought a Print Shop on North Main from T. A. Hayes. Here he established the Blackfoot Printing and Office Supply, which he operated until he retired in 1964 due to ill health. He was a hard worker and no task ever seemed too great or too big a challenge. He took pride in seeing a job well done. At this time he published the Advertiser, a weekly newspaper in Blackfoot. Many times he worked from early hours until late at night, setting the type and printing the paper so it could be delivered early the next morning. He printed the tickets and programs for the Eastern Idaho State Fair for several years.

Howard enjoyed his farm and his livestock. He took pride in his cattle and in raising good crops. He loved horses and was a charter member of the Bingham County Sheriff's Posse.

He clerked the Auction Sales through out the Snake River Valley with Severin Johnson as the auctioneer.

He was active in politics and served as precinct committeeman for the Republican Party for several terms. He served on the Selective Service Board and willingly gave endless ours to meetings and interviews in the capacity of chairman. In 1952 he was awarded the Distinguished Medal of Honor for fifteen years of service to his country. The letter read in part "The unselfish service that you gave the Selective Service System during the trying days of the Korean Conflict will always serve me as an inspiration in dedicated patriotism. The problems of your board had many more than the usual complications, and I am sure you can take great pride in the board's extraordinary service." Signed Major General John E. Walsh, State Director.

He was an active Rotarian and served as Vice President in 1961. He attended the International Convention in Miami, Florida that year.

Howard was always active in the LDS Church and had a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. He served on the Sunday School and the MIA Stake Boards while living in Pocatello. He was Elders' Quorum President and then served as Ward Clerk for the Riverside Ward for several years. He was an active teacher, a Teacher Trainer, and a Home Teacher. He was ordained a High Priest on his 60th birthday, June 28, 1959, and served as secretary of his High Priests' Quorum.

His health failed and he was forced to retire in 1964. He always seemed to feel more secure with his little 40 acre farm than he did with anything else, and he never wanted to part with it. I remember of Howard working many times with more than one job at a time. He stayed with things until they paid off. He rested merely by changing jobs and seldom kept a working schedule, but worked overtime much of the time. It wasn't unusual for him to be late for his meals, but I was a slow cook and it would usually work out all right for both of us.

Christmas was his favorite time of the year. He always wanted to make sure everyone was happy. He spent his last Christmas in the hospital. Although he had been ill for some time, he passed away unexpectedly the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, 1966. His posterity now includes three daughters, Barbara Hale, Carolyn Harper, and Cherlene Schara, 19 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Written by Rhoda H. Hill