At the recent Shelby County Republican Party annual reception held at the Wynfrey Hotel, State Rep. Mike Hill, R-Columbiana, was honored to receive the Shelby County Republican of the Year Award.

Hill was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1986 and has become a leader. He presently serves as the vice-chair and ranking minority member of the Banking and Insurance Committee, and is a member of the State Government Committee, the Joint Highway Committee and the Joint Energy Committee.

He has been a member of the North American Energy Council for more than 10 years. The council is made up of 11 energy-producing states, six provinces of Canada and Venezuela. He was recently elected chair of the council.

“Forty percent of our gas comes from the U.S.A., 30 percent comes from Canada and 20 percent comes from friendly nations,” Hill said. “Only 10 percent of our gas comes from volatile nations, which is a little know fact.”

Hill’s family has been devoted to a life of service to Shelby County. Hill’s father, Elvin Hill, was the superintendent of the Shelby County Board of Education for more than 20 years; his grandfather, Boon White, and great-grandfather, Jefferson Falkner, were both sheriffs of Shelby County; his sister, Peg Hill, is on the Shelby County Board of Education; his great aunt, Fay Quick, was the tax collector; his cousin, Dan Acker, is a Shelby County Commissioner; his cousin, Buck Falkner, was once mayor of Columbiana; and cousin, Mary Harris, is the circuit clerk.

At 12 years old, Hill was asked to be a page for State Rep. John Lewis Cates. Hill spent two weeks in Montgomery watching the process of our state government at work.

“It was at this time I decided that I would like to someday serve,” Hill said.

After graduating with a bachelor of science from Auburn University, Hill attended the School of Banking of the South at LSU, and the Commercial Lending School from Oklahoma State University. He works at Regions Bank in the Columbiana branch. His wife, Carol, is a past president and member of the Alabama Legislators Spouses’ Club. The Hills are the parents of three children, Hayden Jeffries, Hunter and Jon Michael Hill (deceased). They have three grandchildren.

“I love Shelby County,” Hill said. “I grew up here and never left. Shelby County is a great place to live. As a Legislator, I concentrate on what is needed for our state and Shelby County and am honored to personally help my constituents who call and ask for help.”

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by e–mail at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.