Mr. Warrick Hill turned 75 years "young" on June 7, 2001.
MSO, Gale Senseman Privette (1966), and Mrs. Hill called on
Peary alums for a few months to submit cards and letters to create
a memory book that was presented to him.

The presentation of the Memory Book to Mr. Hill for his 75th Birthday
party, was held on June 3, 2001 at Dave and Busters Restaurant, White
Flint Plaza in Rockville, Md. The party was from 3-7p with him arriving
at 4.  There are PHOTOS from the event for viewing, courtesy of Gale.
He was born on June 7, 1926.

Mr. Hill was extremely touched and very surprised . The book for him with all the cards, pictures,
e-mails, articles, etc. was about 3" thick from all his former students who sent birthday wishes for him.
Art Ridgway (1966) did a truly wonderful job on making a book cover for Mr. Hill's album.

The following was written and read to Mr. Hill, by Gale Senseman Privette , Class of 1966, upon
presentation of the book:

"I have the great privilege and distinct Honor to be here today to represent some of his former
students and present him with an album filled with letters, pictures, cards, e-mails and Lots of Love.....
from just some of those lives he’s touched along the way as a teacher for 24yrs, at Robert E. Peary
High School in Rockville. This man is truly loved, honored and cherished by so many.

Peary High School has its very own web page and every month, with new alumni registering
information about themselves, one of the questions that is asked is "who was your favorite
teacher ??" Of those students that had him, 90% seem to say Mr. Hill.....tho, I myself only had him
as a home room teacher in the 9th grade he still was able to make quite an impression on me.....it
was his whole demeanor, his presence , his posture, his grace and his loving spirit that showed
through his eyes .......yes, and of course his witty sense of humor. After I graduated in ‘66, shortly
thereafter I lost my dad in a fire in Aug. of ‘66. Mr. Hill was there for me and my entire family...He
and I have kept in touch through all the years,....and I see to it that he’s able to attend every one of
our class reunions every 5 yrs...This man also made it a point to be there once again for me and my
family just two years ago when my mom passed away in ‘99.....and EVEN NOW...not JUST with
me.....but whenever he hears of something happening to one of his former students or their families,
he makes himself available to be there for them, as he always did during his years at Peary. He’s a
living Angel....to say the least.....in fact, my husband and I met at our 20th class reunion and were
married a year and a half later....we changed the date of our wedding just so Mr. Hill and his lovely
wife could attend....so that tells you of MY love and feelings for this man and now I’d like to share
just a few things---that his former students wrote into the Peary newsletters about him ......

One wrote ....He always drew the best out of his students with his patience, kindness, humor, warmth
and Great wisdom.......

A Classy guy and will be long remembered for his elegance.....

He treated us like PEOPLE and not just children ......

He commanded and showed us RESPECT !!!!!!!!!!!

Many, many people wrote -- tho they didn’t like math up until his class...He always MADE Math
and algebra Fun......so we just had to get it.....and for the first time ever ......enjoyed it.......

He was the Best teacher I ever had in my life, and from the looks of it and reading the MSO (the
Peary web page and newsletter), that opinion is shared by many......

It was VERY obvious he LOVED teaching and doing what he did !!

The Man is CLASS, JUST PURE CLASS ............

He taught much more than school ...he taught Life ...THANK YOU, MR. HILL!

For encouraging me to be the best Me I CAN BE !!!!

Mr. Hill of Course....for his class...and not just his class but for being a REAL Role Model....

For SHOWING ANOTHER Brother the way !!!!!!!!

The NICE, good natured teacher who was a real family man....BUT was also COOL !!!!!!!!

Another one writes ......I remember his for his FAIRNESS ........

I remember -----the day all the teachers walked out on strike....he allowed us to choose whether to
go and watch them.........or remain in his class.....while he continued to just go right on teaching....We
remained in class, out of respect for HIM..!!!.

HIS daily greetings and salutations........

HIS invaluable life lessons........

For bringing out my academic side (WHEN I didn’t even know I had one !!! )

For giving me another chance OVER AND OVER and OVER AGAIN .....

For believing in me UNTIL I was able to believe in myself......

HIS posture, His Presence, His grace......( this one I wrote )

Also many wrote .....I looked forward every day to walking in his class room and seeing the "QUOTE
of the day "........on what he called ......HIS "BOARD OF EDUCATION...."

These are but a few of the things people had to say about -----OUR endearing Mr. Hill.....

NOW that all of those wonderful words have been expressed.....Let me show you another side of
HIM....a side I never knew existed and came as a surprise to me......since I was only in his homeroom
and wasn’t given the pleasure of being in one of his Math or algebra classes....this also is what some
of his former students remember about him....and many of these were also repeated SEVERAL times
.....as were all the nice things people had to say....

I remember HIM boxing my ears on many occasions........

AGAIN SEVERAL said .......Having to duck ....his throwing erasers or chalk at me.....

HIS SKIPPER CAN...This was a huge piece of chalk that was the size of a mason jar that one of his
students gave to him......this was for the person who skipped a lot....and Mr. Hill would put it on the
student’s desk so he knew that Mr. Hill knew that he had skipped and wasn’t pulling anything over on
him...!!!!!! HMMM, great idea Mr. H ...... ;-) !!!!

NOW we come to some of his VERY favorite expressions he’d tell certain individuals........

YOU’RE Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

YOU "LIE" like a Rug !!!!!

So what’s your major maladjustment ??

NOW you’re cookin’ with GAS !!!

And my personal favorite is .........

YOU’RE like a lost Ball in HIGH Weeds...... :-)

Well, this all gave me some new insight into this wonderful and HUMBLE man ...... :-) and hope it
did for you too. But I’d like to leave you with one more thing that someone wrote about him.....
that describes HIM and sums all of this up to WHO our Mr. HILL really is .....and that is......

Because he chooses to live out the greatest commandment of them all------- "TO LOVE ONE
ANOTHER" and for being "A TRUE GODLY MAN !!!"

So again, it is with Great honor and tremendous pleasure for me to be chosen to not only be here
with Him, his family, his dearest friends, and some of his former students but to be able to take part
in putting together this BOOK for him.....compiled of thoughts and well wishes from so many of his
former students ...and one of such a tribute to this man and expressions of love and honor that so
many wanted to write him and let him know of their feelings for him, and to feel apart of this joyous
occasion of this celebration of his life and congratulate him on reaching his 75th birthday...........and
I hope he has at least 30 MORE!"

With Much Affection ............

Gale Senseman Privette
Robert E. Peary High School
Class of ‘66
(posted June 5, 2001)

A collection of quotes from Mr. Hill's class recorded by Tom Way (1980) on his Tribute to Mr.
Hill Page

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