Donald Lee Hiltz

Donald Lee Hiltz, P.T. was born on May 23, 1938 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Elroy Lee and Ruth Evelyn Hiltz. He was raised in Baltimore and attended secondary school at Baltimore City College, where he graduated as part of the renowned A-Course. During high school, he competed for and won the Maryland state high hurdle championship. After graduation, he matriculated at the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Physical Therapy. He soon opened his own private practice, which would later grow to three locations in the Maryland/Washington DC area. He also joined the United States Army Reserves as a commissioned Second Lieutenant and was later promoted to First Lieutenant before receiving his honorable discharge. Throughout his time in private practice, he coined the acronym “POPTS” in an effort to eliminate physician-owned physical therapy services. He lobbied both legislatures and licensing boards across multiple states to establish the autonomy of physical therapists. In 1979, he met Debbie Keady, the love of his life, whom he later married in 1982.

In 1985, he sold his practice to retire and move south to Gadsden, Alabama. However, he was restless in retirement and so began a new practice in Gadsden in 1986. In addition to owning and operating his own practice, he was active in the larger community of physical therapy. He served on the State of Alabama Board of Physical Therapy as both a member and as Chairman. He sold his practice and retired for the second and final time in 1994. In retirement, he remained active in personal, professional, and civic causes. He started a second business, Hiltz Professional Services, and provided investigatory services for state licensing boards. He also taught Algebra and English at Gadsden State’s GED program. He served constantly in his church, holding a variety of positions from Board of Stewarts to weekly usher. He lived out his lifelong love of cars by owning more than 30 different cars over the course of his life, with his last being his Dodge Viper, most recognizable for its “ZOOOOOM” license plate.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Elroy Hiltz, his sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Raymond Magill, and a son, Christopher Lee Hiltz. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Deborah Keady Hiltz, his sons Donald Lee Hiltz, Jr. (Vickie) and Thomas Lee Hiltz II (Elizabeth), two grandsons, Christopher James Hiltz (Lexy) and Thomas Lee Hiltz III, and two great-grandchildren, Hudson Lee Hiltz and Rylan Rae Hiltz.

Honorary pallbearers include Donald Hiltz, Jr., Thomas Hiltz, Christopher Hiltz, Roland Rivard, Curtis Scott, and George Varner. The family would like to thank all of his caretakers who contributed to his comfortable and peaceful final months, especially Tiffany Bagley Bellew.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 9th, at First United Methodist Church of Gadsden at 1:00 pm with visitation preceding at 12 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider an honorary donation made to the Rainbow City Fire Department on behalf of the home assistance program, 3700 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City, AL 35906.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.collier-butler.com for the Hiltz family.