Dick Hill
| Richard Hill | |
|---|---|
| Dick | |
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1950–at least 2013 |
Richard Hill was a long-time sports official and administrator in Northwestern Ontario who served as a District Administrator for Little League Baseball and a board member for the regional sports hall of fame. Richard Hill was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 as a builder.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Richard Hill was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 29 September 2018 in the builder category for baseball, hockey, softball and broomball.[1]
Career and service
Born in Fort William, Hill began his six-decade career in sports during the late 1950s. He initially served as an umpire for rural baseball matches before moving to the Fort William Senior Baseball League. In the mid-1960s, he joined the growing Little League Baseball program. To further his skills, he traveled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to attend Umpire School. Although he received an offer to officiate professional games in the United States, he chose to return to Thunder Bay and continued umpiring Little League from 1963 until 1979. During the 1981 Canada Summer Games, he acted as an official for Ontario and managed the role of Officials Coordinator for Softball.[1]
During the winter seasons, Hill was a fixture on the ice as a referee for both hockey and broomball. His volunteer work began in the early 1960s with the Fort William Elks, where he officiated tournaments and league play. He eventually progressed to refereeing in the Commercial Hockey League and various other divisions within local Thunder Bay hockey organizations. He retired from active officiating in the late 1980s after nearly thirty years of service.[1]
In 1980, Hill transitioned into sports administration. After a very brief tenure as an assistant, he was appointed the District Administrator for Ontario District #3 Little League Baseball. He held this leadership position until 1998, during which time he coordinated local, provincial, and national tournaments. His role involved representing the district at events across Canada and the United States, including attending the Little League Congress, an international gathering of delegates.[1]
Hill also contributed significantly to the preservation of local sports history as a member of the board of directors for the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He served on the executive from 1980 until 2013. During his tenure, he held the position of President, notably leading the organization during its move to a new facility.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1950–at least 2013) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Fort William and active in local sports officiating and administration from 1950 until his Hall of Fame board service ended in 2013.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1950–at least 2013) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Fort William and active in local sports officiating and administration from 1950 until his Hall of Fame board service ended in 2013.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Officiated baseball and hockey in Northwestern Ontario for approximately sixty years
- Attended the professional Umpire School in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
- Served as the Officials Coordinator for Softball at the 1981 Canada Summer Games
- Held the position of District Administrator for Ontario District #3 Little League Baseball from 1980 to 1998
- Served as President of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame during its facility relocation
- Represented regional baseball interests at the international Little League Congress[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Dick Hill", builder profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/builder-profile/0db1be07-c0f6-42e1-846a-5d8a99d56afd (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.