Jim was very active in sports, playing football, track, and cross-country while attending West Phoenix High School. He attended the University of Arizona where he met his former wife and mother of his three children, Joan Johnson Yost. Jim joined his brother, Harvard Hill, as a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, was the Junior Class President of U of A and was voted by the student body as Outstanding Intramural Athlete in 1961. He graduated with a Commission in the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the Presidio of San Francisco. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
He began his career with the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors in 1966 in California, moved his family to Oregon with GM, then transitioned from an employee to owner of an Oldsmobile-GMC dealership in Nampa, Idaho. There he found his passion for horses and made many friends through his involvement with the Snake River Stampede, eventually serving as President. In 1996, he purchased James Toyota in Pullman, Washington and simultaneously built an auto mall in Moses Lake, Washington. His contributions to Moscow, Idaho, particularly his support for the University of Idaho and Washington State University, underscored his commitment to education and local development. Jim’s lifelong dedication to the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta, spoke volumes of his mentorship and influence. He was honored twice with the Durrance Award for Most Outstanding Chapter Advisor in the US.
Retiring in Tucson, Arizona, Jim's legacy is a testament to a life marked by laughter, quick wit, and an enduring spirit that made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He had an ability to craft the perfect one-liner, to share a story that would captivate any audience, and to make friends in every corner of life. A favorite phrase, "Start fast and maintain," encapsulate his approach to life—a philosophy that he not only preached but also practiced until his very last day.
Jim’s memory lives on through his three children Jeff Hill, Shelley Jackson and Dean Hill and his seven grandchildren Shaun Hill, Chris Hill, Hailey Hill, Kendra Jackson, Taylor Jackson, Morgan Hill and Winston Hill as well as his countless stories and one-liners that will continue to bring smiles to faces for years to come. His beloved pets, Bleu, Cisco and JoJo also carry forward the joy and companionship they shared with him. Jim’s impact and his absence will be felt deeply by his family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
A dignitary veteran’s graveside service will be held at 12pm Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ (719 N. 27th Ave) followed by a Celebration of Life at 1pm at The Canopy Hotel in Scottsdale (7142 E 1st St).
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested contributions to UABC Phi Gamma Delta (6817 East Via Vigna Tuscon, AZ 85750) or Children’s Cancer Association (1200 NW Naito Parkway #140 Portland, OR 97209).
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