Ms. Martha Allen

Charles Hill retired from the North Forest Independent School District in the Houston area in 1986 at age 75. He had served as music teacher and librarian in the North Forest ISD for 27 years. At retirement, he had 49 years of accredited service in Texas education and had been involved in band music over 60 years.
Although born in Houston, he spent most of his early life in Nacogdoches and graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1928. Hill was a charter member of the first SFA Lumberjack Bank in 1926-27, three years after the new college first opened in 1923 and while he was still in high school.
Hill received his bachelor of science degree from SFA in summer commencement in 1933. At SFA, he served as president of his senior class and was a reporter and feature writer for the student newspaper, The Pine Log, in addition to his music activities.
His distinguished career in music included two “firsts” during the early years. He became the first band director in 1934 at Troup HS and also was the first full-time band director for Overton HS from 1953-42.
After a tour of duty with the U.S. Army during WWII, he served as a member of the music faculty at Sam Houston State University from 1948-53. At Sam Houston, he held the rank of associate professor of music and served as music conductor and music arranger for the campus dance band and the football Bearkat band.
Later, he served as director of the Lovelady HS Band from 1953-59 before joining the North Forest ISD.