Ralph Hilliard

Ralph “Pete” Hilliard, 78, who was devoted to the village of Midvale, students and athletes of Indian Valley North and Midvale, and to his top priority, his family, passed away Friday, August 4, 2006, at his home after a long illness.He was born October 16, 1927, at Uhrichsville to the late Millard and Illda Watkins Hilliard. On August 27, 1955, he married the former Betty L. Tidrick, who survives.Also surviving are two daughters, Roxanne (Dick) White of Midvale and grandchildren, Katie L., Elizabeth R., and Richard “Ricky” White; Renee (Shane) Burdette and grandchildren Erin S. Burdette and Keeley J. Burdette, her fiancé Dewey Thomas, and step-great-grandson Gavin Thomas of Uhrichsville, son Rod “Pete” Hilliard of Midvale; sister, Erma (Fred) Walton of New Philadelphia; aunt, Helen Watkins of Tuscarawas; in-laws, Raymond and Sally Tidrick of Midvale, numerous nieces and nephews and family, and Sable, his yellow Labrador he affectionately called his granddaughter.He was preceded in death by several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and two nephews. He resided at Midvale and was a charter member of the Midvale Lions Club, which was founded in 1956, and held several offices. He was awarded the Lions’ prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. For many years he served on Midvale Village Council and was a former mayor of Midvale. He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church at Tuscarawas.The retired teacher and basketball coach was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005 and was the first secretary/treasurer for Ohio District 5 Coaches Association.Remembered as one of the winningest high school basketball coaches in the area, Pete recorded 295 victories in his 20 years at the former Midvale High School and its successor, Indian Valley North High School, at Midvale. In 1957, under his guidance, the Midvale Blue Devils team was runner-up in the state championship. In his long coaching career, he experienced only one losing season.He had a love for the game but especially for all the young men who played for him, and he took joy in his players’ successes after high school.Known for his sense of humor, Pete’s legend included wearing the same blue suit for 13 years while he coached Midvale teams, a tradition that ended when he burned the suit after the school was consolidated with Tuscarawas.Looking for a challenge and a way to further contribute to education, he stepped down as coach in 1974 to become director of the Occupational Work Experience program at IV North but retained the post of athletic director. He retired from teaching in 1982.There were few challenges that Pete Hilliard wouldn’t try, and he tackled them for personal satisfaction and to help others. He completed emergency medical technician training and put in countless hours of community service. His hobbies included cake decorating, cooking, gardening, fishing, and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. He thought his grandchildren were perfect no matter what.In an interview published in 1987, he said if he could change one thing about himself, it would be “to be a little kinder to my wife; a good woman deserves it.”A 1945 graduate of Tuscarawas Warwick High School, he was an Army veteran, serving from 1945-1947. He earned his education degree in 1952 from Kent State University and taught mechanical drawing and industrial arts at Midvale High School and Indian Valley North, served as athletic director, coached baseball and football at Midvale High School in addition to basketball, and for many years drove school bus. In the summers he was a house painter until becoming ill in 2001.In addition to family, he is survived by close family friend and caregiver, Mandy Shroyer, and his best friend and painting partner, Todd Hupp. Todd and Pete argued over who knew the most, and Pete loved their trips to Canada. Todd kept Pete young at heart.By his own admission, Pete was not the “hard case I appear to be as a basketball coach. I am really a kind-hearted, compassionate milk toast.”Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Monday, August 7, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A service will be held on Tuesday in the funeral home’s chapel at 10:30 a.m. with Gene Ford of Cambridge officiating. Burial will follow the service at St. James Lutheran Church Cemetery at Tuscarawas. A reception will be held at St. James Lutheran Church following the committal service.The family requests memorial contributions be made to one of the following: Midvale Lions Club, P.O. Box 124, Midvale, OH 44663, St. James Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 336, 215 Church Street, Tuscarawas, OH 44682, or Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 W 3rd St., Dover, OH 44622.