Jack Hill's undergraduate career in Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech was interrupted following the 1944 fall quarter, when he was drafted by the U.S. Army for active service in World War II. Released from military duty after two years, he returned to the university in 1946 on the GI Bill. His studies included graduate courses in Structures and Geotechnical Engineering, and he took advantage of the opportunity to work as a student instructor.



In addition to studying and teaching, Jack was elected a member of Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He also played intramural football and won All Intramural honors. Despite his hectic schedule, Mr. Hill graduated Cum Laude in June 1949.



A native of the Tidewater area of Virginia, Mr. Hill returned there to begin his career as an engineer at Welding Shipyards, and then soon joined John B. McGaughy and Associates as the firm's Survey Engineer. As the firm expanded, so did Mr. Hill's responsibilities. With Lublin, McGaughy and Associates, his roles changed from Chief Cadastral Surveyor to Project Engineer to Associate. In 1964, he became Partner-in-Charge of Civil Engineering for McGaughy, Marshall and MacMillan and was later named a member and Vice President of the firm.



The firm reorganized and became MMM Design Group, Inc., and Mr. Hill's positions progressed from Senior Vice President to Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors to President and COO. In 1997, he was elected Chairman of the Board. MMM Design Group evolved from one of the earliest multi-disciplined architectural, engineering, planning, and surveying firms, and now has offices around the world.



Elected a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1976, Mr. Hill served as the Virginia Section President in 1980 and was honored by the society as Virginia's Engineer of the Year in 1981. He served as State Chairman of the International Joint Conference of ASCE, Institution of Civil Engineers (United Kingdom), and Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. During 1980, he served as General Chairman of ASCE's Ports and Harbors Committee for the Ports 80 Specialty Conference. The Norfolk Branch of ASCE inducted Mr. Hill into the Hardy Cross Hall of Fame in recognition of a lifetime of professional and community service.



Mr. Hill has served as President, Director, or Chairman of a number of other professional organizations, including the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, Engineers Club of Hampton Roads, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, Virginia Association of Surveyors, Virginia Surveyors Foundation, and Virginia Education Trust. He also has been active in the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Norfolk and has worked with the Boy Scouts of America and Old Dominion University's (ODU) engineering program.



In 1971 Mr. Hill was instrumental in establishing an expanded surveying education certificate program within CEE at Virginia Tech. The program was recognized by the Virginia State Board of Registration and Mr. Hill and others have provided more than 16 scholarships for certificate students (the program now operates at ODU). Mr. Hill also was a founding member of the CEE Alumni Board and served as Chairman in 1990, successfully presenting a plan to the university Provost to designate Patton Hall as a building exclusive to Civil Engineering.



Jack and his wife, Joanne, celebrating their 50 years together, reside in Norfolk. They have four children-Jack, Jr., Dianne, Catherine, and David-and five grandchildren.