James Clark Hilliard, 88, of West Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at his home. Jim was born November 16, 1928 in Caney, Kansas. He graduated from Caney Valley High School in 1946 and put himself through Kansas StateUniversity by working various jobs. Jim began his life-long commitment to public education immediately. He taught one semester of high school before he was drafted. During his two years of active duty in the Army, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Upon discharge, he continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves for thirty years, retiring in 1984 as a Colonel. When stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, Jim met Betty Ann Howard. They married on September 6, 1953 and remained happily married until her death on September 1, 2012. Upon discharge, Jim returned to Kansas and his career in public education. He and Betty taught in Kansas and he was a superintendent of schools in Hartford, Kansas. In 1958, Jim was awarded a Kellogg Fellowship to attend George Peabody College, now a part of Vanderbilt University. He graduated from Peabody with his Doctorate of Education in 1960. He worked in various capacities in school systems in Korea and Florida before becoming the Superintendent of the Owensboro Public Schools in Kentucky in 1968. He served in that capacity from 1968-1984. When he retired from Owensboro, he became an administrator for the Fort Knox Community Schools. He worked at several elementary schools in Fort Knox before his retirement in 1992. Jim was a wonderful and caring man. He was intelligent, energetic, principled, compassionate, and humble. His easy smile, kind heart and great sense of humor allowed him to make friends easily. He was an optimist who devoted his life to caring for others. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Among his achievements, in 1978, he received the Owensboro-Daviess County United Way’s “Humanitarianism Award” for his service to that community. In 1984, the National Association of Educational Office Professionals named him the National Educational Administrator of the Year. Jim was an active participant in community organizations wherever he lived. He was also a committed member of his church. He was an active member of Memorial United Methodist Church until his wife died and he moved to West Des Moines, Iowa, to be near family. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Frank James Hilliard and Bertha Marie Ikerd Hilliard nd his younger brother, George Hilliard. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty. He is survived by two sons, James Clark Hilliard, Jr. (Lori) of Delavan, Wisconsin; David A. Hilliard (Joslyn) of Gainesville, Georgia; a daughter, Susan H. Adair (Andy) of West Des Moines, Iowa; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; cousins and friends. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Funeral Home followed by a memorial service at 3p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Mike Gibbons officiating. Graveside services will be private at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-Central in Radcliff. Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.

Visitation:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home

Service:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 starting at 3:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home