Bryce Dale Hill

Bryce Dale Hill, 80, former Superintendent of New Lima Public Schools died Monday, January 17, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Bryce was born March 5, 1930 in Twin Oaks, Seminole County, to Charles Daniel and Ollie Willow (Nichols) Hill. Bryce attended numerous small rural grade schools throughout Seminole County and was a 1948 graduate of Pleasant Grove High School.  As a senior at Pleasant Grove Bryce was the recipient of the American Legion Award, a member of the National Honor Society and was the All Sports Athlete of the year.  After his high school graduation Bryce attended Seminole Junior College and graduated with an Associate’s Degree.  Bryce continued his education at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and later his Masters Degree in Education.   He later attended the University of Oklahoma where he only lacked his dissertation to be awarded his doctoral degree in education. Bryce married Wilma Dean Carter on August 16, 1956 in Berryville, Arkansas.  Bryce and Wilma were married over 51 years celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on August 16, 2006. Bryce retired from New Lima Public Schools after 43 years of service, including 39 years as Superintendent, during which time he insisted on teaching Freshman Algebra in order to stay in touch with the classroom environment.  During his time at New Lima Bryce was a member of the First Baptist Church in Seminole and taught Adult Sunday School from 1981 to 1995.  Bryce and Wilma Hill retired to Shawnee, Oklahoma in May 1995 to be close to Bryce’s brothers Frank Hill and the late Gene Hill.  Bryce and Wilma lived in Shawnee until Wilma’s death on March 20, 2008.  Bryce moved to Tulsa to live with his son and daughter in law, Tony and Sunshine, in May of 2009 where lived until his death. During his professional career Bryce was an active member of the Oklahoma Education Association and the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, which named him District Administrator of the Year in 1983 and 1994.  Bryce was a founding member of the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools and served as its President in 1993 - 1994, was Chairman of the Seminole County Red Cross for over twenty years and was the Seminole County Democratic Party Chairman for twenty-seven years.  After retirement Bryce remained active in the Seminole County and Pottawatomie County Retired Teachers Associations, was a member of the Oklahoma Association of Retired School Administrators and the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association, was an active member of the Legislative Committees of these organizations and was often seen at the State Capitol working with legislators on education and teachers retirement issues. Bryce is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law, Bryce Anthony “Tony” and Sunshine Hill of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Brent Dale and Kim Hill of Stillwater, Oklahoma.  One brother, Franklin D. Hill of Shawnee, Oklahoma and one sister, Wanda L. Cardenas, of Edmond, Oklahoma also survive him.  Bryce was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Dean Hill, his Mother Ollie W. Hill, Father, Charles Daniel Hill, brothers James, Harold and Gene Hill, sisters Doris and Rachael Hill. Funeral services are set for Friday, January 21, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church located at 420 Reid Street in Seminole, Oklahoma.  Interment will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Seminole. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: January 21, 2011, 1:00 PM First Baptist Church located at 420 Reid Street, Seminole, OK 74868