Wharton ISD's Hillis to step down after decades working for district
"He offered me the job and I moved here in 1977, and I've been here ever since." - Don Hillis Wharton ISD superintendent
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

A fixture at Wharton ISD since 1977, Superintendent Don Hillis has announced he will retire at the end of the current academic year.

The construction of the new Wharton Elementary campus is putting the capstone on Hillis' career. It is something he had been hoping to see built for a long time.

"I was pleasantly surprised the community supported the bond issue to build it and passed it by a nice margin," he said.

Hillis is originally from this area, having attended public school in Rockdale and Port Lavaca. He graduated from Calhoun High School in 1965 and then Sam Houston State University in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in education.

His first job was in the classrooms of Brazosport High School in 1969. He described it as an "all-around" learning experience as he coached baseball, drove a bus and was the student council sponsor in addition to his teaching duties.

Continuing his own classroom education, Hillis would add a master's degree in education administration in 1973. He received his superintendent's certification in 1977. That same year, he was hired as assistant principal at Wharton High School by then-principal Jack Thornton.

"He offered me the job and I moved here in 1977," he said. "And I've been here ever since. My wife, Merri, was a first grade teacher and only retired a couple of years ago and both my children (daughter Holly and son John) are graduates of the Wharton ISD."

Hillis would serve nine years as assistant principal under Thornton's direction.

"It's a position that teaches you about school administration. You learn every inch of the role. When Thornton retired, I was named principal and did that for four years before moving over to the central office in 1990 as director of auxiliary services."

His responsibilities included transportation, facilities maintenance and food services. In 1977, he became superintendent.

"This job is tough enough without compounding it with problems," he said. "I've had great boards to work with along with an outstanding staff. The Texas Association of School Boards talks about 'a board of eight' - the seven trustees and the superintendent - and being a team. It might sound like lip service but when it works that way a school district can accomplish a lot."

His resignation goes into effect June 30.