Jim Hill (American football)
James Webster Hill (born October 21, 1946) is a former American football defensive back who played in the National Football League. He is now a Los Angeles-based sportscaster and currently lead sports anchor and sports director at KCBS-TV.
| No. 39, 49 | |||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | October 21, 1946 San Antonio, Texas | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | Texas A&I | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Hill played college football at Texas A&M University–Kingsville (formerly Texas A&I University). Prior to becoming a sportscaster, Hill was a football player, playing for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. He has appeared as himself in movies and television shows such as Rocky III and Arli$$.
During his first season as a Green Bay Packers player in 1972, Hill started his broadcasting career as a contributor to the Monday and Tuesday evening newscasts of Green Bay station WBAY-TV;[1] as the primary affiliate of the CBS-TV Network in Green Bay at the time, WBAY-TV carried most Packers games during the 1970s. After retiring from the NFL, Hill started in 1976 at KCBS-TV (then KNXT), where he was a sports anchor for 11 years. Hill began on the NFL on CBS in 1980 as an analyst. But in 1984, 1985, and 1992–93, he was the play-by-play announcer on selected games. He also served as Sideline Reporter for CBS Sports's coverage of the 1984 Super Bowl. He left KCBS in 1987, and spent a near five-year stint at rival KABC-TV, where he anchored the sports segments on its 5, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts. He also worked for ABC Sports's coverage of the 1988 Winter Olympics as a Correspondent in Calgary and as Sideline Reporter for the 1988 Super Bowl. He returned to KCBS in March 1992, and has remained there since. In addition to KCBS-TV duties, Hill files sports reports for sister station KCAL-TV. Hill is also one of the hosts for pay-per-view boxing telecasts produced by the Showtime cable network.
A popular broadcast personality in southern California for years, Hill has been active in community activities. He is a member of the Los Angeles Urban League's board of directors, as well as serving on the board of directors of the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, California. He is a spokesman for the City of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, and is involved in developing youth outreach and fitness programs.
Hill has been honored by the Associated Press, Los Angeles Press Club, United Press International, the California Press Television and Radio Association, and USA Today for his outstanding work in sports reporting.
Hill was honored on May 9, 2006, with the 2,311th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Colleagues, friends, family and dignitaries such as Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were in attendance to honor the popular sportscaster. Mayor Villaraigosa declared May 9, 2006, in Los Angeles as "Jim Hill Day."
Hill is an avid golfer who often plays at Wilson & Harding Golf Courses at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. He also plays golf with Ernie Camacho. He was formerly married to Erma White (1965–1973). Hill has one son, Walter J. Hill, San Antonio, Texas. He is divorced from actress Denise Nicholas.[2] His younger brother is former Los Angeles Rams tight end David Hill.
References
- TV Guide magazine, Wisconsin Edition dated September 23–29, 1972, WBAY-TV ad on page A-40
- Park, Jeannie; Armstrong, Lois (May 7, 1990). "In the Heat of the Night's Eerie Parallels to Her Sister's Murder Allow Actress Denise Nicholas to Finally Conquer Her Grief". People. 33 (18). Retrieved July 8, 2012.