David Hill: Competitive running took this professor around the world

	David Hill, professor of kinesiology, health promotion and recreation, is an Olympian and accomplished cook. He competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and enjoys practicing his culinary skills.

David Hill's talents have taken him all over the world. A professor of kinesiology, health promotion and recreation, Hill competed in several international track meets from 1970 to 1980, including competing for Canada in the Pacific Conference championships, the World Championships and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

Traveling to various track meets gave Hill the opportunity to visit England, France, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Australia, Andorra, Germany, Mexico and Switzerland. He also met Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Great Britain and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

"I don't think I have a favorite place, but what I really remember fondly are the many instances of meeting the local people and seeing how nice people are around the world," Hill says. "I loved traveling and meeting people."

Hill began competing seriously at the age of 14. Ten years later, in 1977, he set the record for the mile in Canada with a time of 3 minutes 55 seconds. He held the record for about 15 years.

"There's a camaraderie associated with any kind of team, especially when you are pushing yourself day after day," Hill says. "I guess it says something about a person's nature if they want to go out in front of a crowd and risk failure for a chance to win something."

Track medals aren't the only thing Hill has won in his lifetime. He is the most recent recipient of the 'Fessor Graham Award, the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by the student body at UNT.

"Having something like the 'Fessor Graham Award makes me believe that teaching and teachers are valued at UNT," Hill says. "When I read the notification letter, I couldn't speak. I can't even describe how good it felt."

Hill, who earned his doctorate in exercise science from the University of Georgia, says many of his colleagues believe he is a researcher first and foremost. But he disagrees.

"I do have more than 50 publications, but as much as I like research, I see myself first as a teacher," he says. "Research is one way to get students involved and active in our field."

Another of Hill's talents is cooking. He says he likes the satisfaction of making a good product, and during the process, he is able to concentrate on the task at hand and put aside any worries.

Noreen Goggin, associate professor and assistant chair in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, has enjoyed Hill's cooking firsthand. She visits Hill and his wife, Corinne, five or six times a year for meals, often on holidays.

"Those times are all memorable," Goggin says. "David loves to cook and bake. I always look forward to going to their house for dinner because it is more than a meal; it is always a great atmosphere, good fun and great food."

BY MAGAN HENDON inhouse@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• New InHouse@UNT format to launch in September
• Administrators to propose 2 percent merit raise pools for UNT faculty and staff
• Regents to discuss campus plans for Denton and Dallas at August meeting
• UNT to use multimillion-dollar bequest to fund unique research of behavior analysis
• UNT opens Honors College for Fall 2005
• Exhibit about UNT's branding process opens this month
• UNT summer commencement is Saturday
• About the commencement speaker
• UNT's First Flight Week, Howdy Week traditions continue this month
• Win a trip to Baton Rouge on UNT's Regal Eagle bus

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