Mary Alice Hill, A Pioneer in Women’s Sports, PART II
This is Part 2 of the Story of Mary Hill.
POST-ACADEMIA
After SDSU, Hill wasn’t done fighting for equality.
In 1989, Hill set another first for women by becoming the Director of Recreation at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base during which she received the Federal Woman’s Achievement Award, letters of appreciate from President Reagan, Vice President Quail and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and a Unit Commendation from the U.S. Secretary of Defense for founding the “Operation Desert Shield Support Walk.”.
Hill was also executive director of the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS). During this time, Hill was the member of committees, task forces and foundations that furthered female’s rights. “At NAGWS I implemented the HERo Award…a program “designed to promote role models for women in sports.”
Hill also dove into horse racing. In fact, one of her horses, “Pardon Dolly”, won Delmar. The horse still holds the highest payoff in Delmar history. As it turns out, the horse’s name became a kind of good omen. Hill met Dolly Parton by chance multiple times. Once on a plane bound for Hawaii with the SDSU football team, Parton stopped and spoke with the entire team. Later, while flying from an NCAA council meeting in Tennessee, Parton again approached Hill.
“The important thing about this [Tennessee] meeting was I needed to schedule two non-conference football games. The two Athletics Directors wanted to meet her [Parton]. So, I said I need to schedule games with them. They agreed. Several ADs had told the press that I would not be able to schedule the non-conference games. I sure proved them wrong.”
MARCELINE MATTERS
When Hill settled in back in Linn County, specifically in Marceline, she shifted her attention to revitalizing Marceline. She became the executive director of the Marceline Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), and a member of the Marceline Project Charitable Foundation and other local organizations.
Between 1995-2001, during her time as MIDA’s executive director, Hill had a role in publicizing Marceline’s connection to Walt Disney, asking the Missouri State Historical Preservation Office (MoSHPO) if Marceline could be named an historic district (SHPO found several of the properties in Marceline eligible for the National Register), implemented the copyright for Main Street USA, was the event director of the world premiere of THE SPIRIT OF MICKEY at the Uptown Theatre (a property now listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and the event planner for the international celebration of Walt Disney’s 100th birthday party. Furthermore, Hill was instrumental in the completion of the first phase of Main Street USA’s renovation and the Santa Fe Depot’s rehabilitation into the Walt Disney and Railroad Museum, a $35 million project. “I did get several grants for the renovation of downtown Marceline and the Disney Museum [which totaled] 1.5 + million.”
Simply put, Hill’s bravery was the catalyst for the full enforcement of Title IX protection. Without her, women’s and girls’ sports might still be treated as “separate but equal,” receiving paltry amounts of funding compared to boys’/men’s sports. Hill’s dedication to Marceline can’t be understated either. Without her, Marceline wouldn’t look like it does, and Disney’s legacy could have been lost. So, the next time you see her around, thank her for all she’s done for the nation, women, and the city.
Ed is the Founder and President of the Marceline Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit (marcelinehistoricalsociety.com).