Alpha Omega Hill (1894-1952)

From the Adams County News, August 5, 1952.

  Aurora, Colorado has lucked into electing two oddly named mayors in its century-plus history, and following the write up on Allington Horatio Kramer (mayor from 1908-10), the life of Alpha Omega Hill is examined. A World War I veteran and mayor of that city, Hill and his space-age sounding name would gain further political prominence when he was elected to the first of three terms in the Colorado legislature in 1944. A native son of Effingham, Florence County, South Carolina, Alpha Omega "A.O." Hill was born in that town on October 25, 1894, the son of David S. and Minnie Hill.

  A student in the public schools of Florence County, Hill later went on to attend the University of Georgia at Athens. He signed on for service during WWI and after enlisting in the Army served overseas with the 116th Engineer Corps. Hill was part of the Allied forces that finally broke the Hindenburg Line in France in September 1918, and during this action was grievously wounded, injuries that proved so severe that he would be hospitalized for several years afterward.

  After being returned stateside for recuperation, Hill contracted tuberculosis, necessitating hospitalization at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. While recuperating in that state he made the acquaintance of former navy Yeomanette Kathryn J. Fox (1896-1980), who he would marry in neighboring Silver City in June 1921. The couple were wed until Hill's death in 1952 and would remain childless. In 1923 the couple removed to Colorado, where Alpha Hill underwent further recuperation at the Fitzsimons General Hospital near Denver, and in 1926 was finally discharged.

  In the weeks following his release from the hospital Alpha O. Hill decided to pursue a career in public service, and after removing to the city of Aurora, ran for and was elected as a justice of the peace. In the 1930s Hill entered into the post of police magistrate for Aurora, serving on the bench for an indeterminate period. Hill's residence in Aurora also saw him active in the Masonic order and local veteran's groups, being a past master of the Aurora Masonic Lodge No. 156 and a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

From the Colorado Yearbook, 1945.

  Hill continued his political ascent in the early 1940s with his election to the Aurora city council, and from 1942-43 was chairman of the Arapahoe County Draft Board. In January 1943 Aurora mayor J.E. McWhorter resigned due to health concerns and Alpha O. Hill was selected to fill out the remainder of McWhorter's term by members of the city council. He would be elected to a term of his own as mayor that April, and despite serving just one term in office (1943-45), pushed through a bevy of civic improvements for his city. His term saw Aurora's first zoning and building ordinance established, a new sewer district developed, and an improved water main system built. Hill's foresight in regards to city planning and zoning was later lauded by the Aurora Democrat in 1950, which noted his developing a planning commission comprising city council members and builders, and after numerous meetings devised a plan to do away with the area's tax-delinquent land. After the completion of a parkway and a channel to carry away flood water, this former "worthless" land became home to "a large theatre, one large grocery and other stores, large apartment houses and perhaps 150 homes."

   A candidate for reelection in early 1945, the mayoral contest proved to be a heated one between Hill and his opponent, B.T. Howard. Though he was defeated in April 1945, Hill continued a steady workload right up until his last day in office, and one week after turning over the mayoral chair to Howard received praise in the Adams County News, who noted:

"The fact remains that Mr. Hill made one of the best mayors Aurora ever had--and considering the whole picture, Aurora made wonderful progress under his administration. Fortunately for our city we still have his advice and best efforts towards making Aurora a better place to live and prosper."

 While he may have lost in his reelection bid for mayor, Hill was not through politically, as he had won election to the Colorado House of Representatives from Arapahoe County in November 1944. Hill's first term saw him chair the committee on Municipal Affairs and also sat on the committees on Enrollment; House Expenses; Indian and Military Affairs; Mercantile and Manufacturing Interests; and Public Buildings. 
  In November 1946 Hill won a second term in the legislature, and during the 1947-49 session again chaired the committee on Municipal Affairs. He was elected to a third term in November 1948, and in his final term was a member of the committees on Constitutional Amendments; House Expenses; Municipal Affairs; and State Institutions. In his last year in office Hill took part in a gathering of former Aurora mayors who were guests of honor at a city official swearing-in ceremony. He was photographed at this gathering with former mayor Allington Horatio Kramer, profiled here on January 22.

Former mayors Alpha Omega Hill and Allington H. Kramer, January 1950.

  For the final three years of his life A.O. Hill battled cancer, and during that period underwent six operations in the hope of being cured of that illness. Hill died of cancer at the Veteran's Hospital in Denver on July 28, 1952, aged 58. Memorialized as a "valiant warrior" and "gallant soul", Hill was survived by his wife Kathryn, who. following her death at age 84 in 1980 was interred alongside him at the Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.