Murray State University is proud to announce the Hill Family Agriculture Scholarship and the Hill Family Student Development Fund for Excellence. Established by Betty L. Hill of Murray, these generous gifts are a tribute to Hill's late father and mother Marvin H. and Lois Tidwell Hill, and her late brother Frank M. Hill, all of Murray.

Tony Brannon, Dean of the MSU School of Agriculture says, "The School of Agriculture is extremely honored to receive this donation for the Hill Family Scholarship and Hill Family Student Development Fund. Although I did personally know Mr. Frank Hill most of my life, I did not know he was an MSU agriculture graduate until we invited him to our Homecoming Banquet in 2004 to be recognized as a 50-year graduate. He took advantage of the opportunity to attend the banquet and had a great time as he accepted his award and renewed friendships with other Murray State graduates. Mr. Hill's education in agriculture began through FFA and at Murray State, but he not only got a degree from MSU, he continued to pursue a lifelong education. It is especially fitting that his life be memorialized by assisting future agriculturalists to obtain their degree through the Hill family scholarships, and by assisting students in pursuing their education by attending events, conferences and competitions funded through the Hill Family Student Development Fund."

MSU President Randy Dunn says, "This gift will have a substantial and lasting impact on the MSU School of Agriculture. We are deeply grateful to Ms. Hill and her family for what they have done to advance Murray State University."

The Hill family has strong ties to Calloway County. Marvin inherited the Hill family farm from his mother Eva Myers Hill, who inherited it from her father Bert Myers. Marvin took over the management of the farm when he was just 18 years old after the passing of his father William Hill. Marvin worked as a Farm Bureau director most of his life and served as Supervisor of the Soil Conservation District for 23 years. He was also instrumental in getting neighbors and friends in Calloway County to sign up for electricity when Rural Cooperatives were established in the late 1930s. Marvin was active in other farm programs and was the first in his neighborhood to own a tractor and combine, a luxury for farmers of that time. Marvin passed away from a stroke in 1972. Betty, her mother Lois and brother Frank continued to live on the family farm.

Frank began helping his father on the farm from an early age. He was active in Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Hazel High School and operated a small dairy and a few row crops. Frank continued to work on the family farm while he attended Murray State. He graduated from MSU in 1954 with a bachelor of science degree in Agriculture Science. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he returned to farm with his father and expanded his dairy operation. In 1968, the dairy operation was dispersed and a beef operation began. He continued to attend adult farming classes to stay up-to-date in changes in agriculture. Frank passed away Dec. 9, 2006, after a long battle with cancer.

Betty earned her bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from MSU in 1951 and an MBA degree from MSU in 1973. She worked for Paschall Truck Lines in Calloway County from 1956 until 1973. She then began working for the Hutson Company of Murray where she retired after 19 years. Betty continues to live on her family farm off of 641 south. She is active in the Glendale Road Church of Christ and participates in Murray and Calloway County community activities.

Recipients of the Hill Family Agriculture Scholarship must be full-time students at MSU pursuing a degree in Agriculture. Preference will be given to students from Calloway County and western Kentucky. The Hill Family Student Development Fund for Excellence will be used for various travel experiences, conferences and competitions for full-time students pursuing a degree in Agriculture or students in any club, organization or team officially recognized by the MSU School of Agriculture. For more information on these and other endowments, contact the MSU Scholarship Office at 270-809-3225 or at scholarship.office@murraystate.edu.