Steve Hill
Year of Induction: 1998 | Categories: Basketball, Football, Golf, Individual
While Steve Hill excelled in both football and basketball at Salem Community High School, it was golf that paved his way into not only a collegiate career but a professional career as well.
A 1969 graduate of SCHS, Hill was known as a fierce rebounder on the basketball court despite his lack of size inside. That ability led to special mention on the all-state team in the 1968-69 season.
In football Hill capped off a solid high school career in 1968 when he was named to the All-South Team as a split end.
Hill was medalist during several meets as a Wildcat golfer. His biggest moment came during his junior season in 1968 when he finished second at the regional and qualified for the state meet as an individual. During state competition Hill finished 30th out of 144 golfers.
While Hill had a good career at Salem, his career skyrocketed in college. Hill played his first two years at the University of Missouri before he transferred to the University of Missouri at Rolla for his junior season.
During his junior year in college he won the MIAA Conference individual championship and qualified for the NCAA Division II championships as an individual.
Hill also set two course records while at Rolla although both have since been broken.
Once Hill graduated from Rolla in 1974, he continued to stay active in golf. In 1977 Hill qualified for the Missouri Amateur Championship Round. That led to his selection to the Missouri Amateur Golfers Honor Roll in 1978.
Hill soon turned professional and earned his first check in 1979. He has been a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America since 1980.
Hill has also been active in the distribution of sports merchandise. In 1983 he was named Sports Illustrated Merchandiser of the year.
Other associations Hill has had with golf include time spent on the PGA rules committee and the operation of a golf pro shop.
June 3rd, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Sorry to get the news that Steve Hill passed away at his home in Florida in May of this year. (2014) He was well deserving to be inducted to the SCHS Hall of Fame.