Michael Hill was my friend.       He was my husband's co-worker and friend. Michael Hill was everyone's friend. I have not yet met one person with any thing but good things to say about him. And had you known him you would understand why.      Michael lived life, he devoured it, he sucked it up like a cold soda on a hot afternoon. He was life!      He always had that smile on his face. I can see him now with his head thrown back and laughing so hard. He was a gentleman, he was a poet not in the sense of the word that he actually sat down and wrote poetry,but in the way he talked. You wanted to listen when Michael talked, you couldn't help it. He drew you to him, he was electric.      I first met him about 16 months ago, when my husband came here to interview for the job of SAI for the Creswell High School Jrotc program. He was the A and when we left the interview my husband said, "well, if I take the job one of the reason's will be Sgt. Hill. I think I could really work with him."

Sgt. Hill had only been here about a year himself. The school though trying was making no headway into a promising program. In one short school term Sgt. Hill and my husband working together daily turned the program from a Jrotc unit, to a Jtotc Honor Unit With Distinction. The highest you can go. They did it with trust and loyalty to each other and the kids and the program.      I used to tease them both and say that they were twins separated at birth. They were both bald, short stocky built men, and both had a sense of humor to be reckoned with. I know that they shared many happy moments together.      I would bake cookies on Thursday night and send them in with my husband on Friday mornings. Around 8 o'clock Sgt.Hill would call me and ask me how many cookies I sent. It seems that some would disappear on my husband's way to work. That would tickle Mike so much for me to give him the correct number of cookies so he could chew on Jay about eating them  on the way to work.      I could fill a book about Michael Hill and I only knew him a short time. But, I know that a church that can only hold 500 people was standing room only and spilling out into the parking area. The flowers were awesome.       Mike was something that is disappearing these days, he was " a good guy" Plain and simple, he was a good man. A friend that if he told you, it was true, take it to the bank. He loved life and he loved those kids in the program. I know he loved my husband as a friend and the love was returned. My husband wept like a baby when they told him at the hospital that he was gone.     Mike died at 48 of a rare stroke to the brain stem and was dead within 36 hours of becoming really ill. He is more than missed, he is loved, thought of, talked about daily.       His lovely wife Glenda and their only child RoShawn are in our thoughts as they were always in Mike's. He was a loving and proud husband and father.      This isn't nearly enough to pay homage to him, but it's all I can do. The Kids in the program are planting a tree at the school in his name and have taken up with his wife the project of a scholarship in his name. A plaque for the hall out side his office . Not much for a man like him, but he would say it's all too much. He wouldn't want a fuss, but he would smile.      Mike I miss you guy and I think of you often. I know you were proud of those kids at your funeral and how hard it was on them. I know you saw the tears they shed, for they had lost a friend, mentor, and teacher. And they won't forget you bud, I know that.      Sleep well my friend and know that Jason continues on what you started. Be ever faithful to you and not let you down. We love you man..................we really do!!