Alan G Hill

Alan was a 1963 graduate of Greenville High School, and he graduated from Furman University with a BA cum laude, in 1967. Alan attended the Harvard - Yale - Columbia Intensive Summer Studies Program in 1966.

After graduating from Furman, Alan attended graduate school at Columbia University, in NYC. He received both a Master of Arts degree in 1969 and Master of Philosophy in 1973 from Columbia. While at Columbia, Alan was a student of the world- renowned sociologist, Robert K. Merton.

He was also a teaching assistant at Columbia for several undergraduate sociology courses. This was where Alan met his future wife, Toyo.

Alan lived in NYC for 12 years. He served in the United States Army Reserves and trained as a medic. Alan was very proud of his military service and frequently wore a “veteran” baseball cap. He co-authored articles in the field of gastrointestinal research with members of the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and he collaborated on numerous scholarly articles in literary criticism.

In 1979 Alan returned to his hometown of Greenville, SC to teach at Furman University in the Sociology Department. While at Furman, he was a go-to person to be interviewed on WYFF Chanel 4 TV on various social and political topics.

In 1987 Alan was hired by Delta College, in Bay City, Michigan, teaching there for 25 years. He was also an adjunct professor at Michigan State University for a year. He wrote many journal articles on various subjects relating to Sociology. In August, 1994, combining his favorite topics of UFOs and religion, Alan presented a paper on “THE UFO ABDUCTION MOVEMENT AS A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT” at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. He was a past President and the longest-serving executive officer of the Michigan Sociological Association.

Alan was the recipient of many accolades and awards during his academic career. Some of these were:

1989 - Outstanding Teacher of Sociology, Michigan Sociological Association

1991 - Salary Committee Delta College

1996 - Award for Governance AAUP Delta College Chapter

1998 - Marvin Olsen Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Sociological Association

2000 - American Sociological Association Distinguished Teaching Award in Sociology and Computers

2003 - Who’s Who in America

2012 - Special commendation for years of dedicated service to Michigan Sociological Association

2012 - Delta College for 25 years of outstanding service to Delta students and the Delta Community

Alan had a lifelong interest in the subject of UFOs and the sociological implications for the people in the UFO community. He attended several national MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) symposiums throughout the years. Alan taught several classes at Delta on the topic of UFOs. These classes were very popular with students. Guest speakers included people claiming to have up-close and personal experiences with UFOs. He enjoyed reading science fiction and was interested in exosociology and space exploration as well as all things extraterrestrial. He was an avid football watcher, both college and professional. A lover of all types of music, he especially appreciated the works of Leonard Cohen, whom he got to see perform live in person at least twice. Alan retired to his hometown of Greenville, SC, in 2015. After his return to Greenville, Alan enjoyed getting together with friends from his graduating class at Greenville High School several times a year. Alan was a season-ticket holder at the Peace Center, attending their Broadway series, as well as other events there. Alan enjoyed travelling to the World Heritage Sites he had been fascinated with all his life. Countries visited include England, Scotland, Wales, Egypt and Russia. He visited Rome twice, and travelled to other cities in Italy, as well as cities in Greece and Turkey.

Preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Grady (AG) Jr. and Bonta Bush Hill, as well as baby brother, Arthur Grady Hill, III, Alan was also predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Toyo Murono Hill. He is survived by his son, Arthur Ginzo Hill, of Taylors.

Alan is also survived by several cousins: Jill Williamson Montana of Highlands, North Carolina, Jim Hawkins of Mobile, Alabama, Susan Bush Parris of Inman, SC and Tom Hawkins of Jonesboro, Georgia.

The family would like to thank Alan’s and Arthur’s caregiver, Annie Goldsmith, Greenville, SC, and his longtime friend from childhood, Dee Savage, and her partner, Frank Watts, both from Taylors, SC for their assistance in the last year of his life. A special thanks to longtime friend and pastor, Doug Stratton, of Philadelphia, for officiating at his funeral.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Dr. Greenville, SC 29609, at 11 AM.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Mackey Mortuary, 311 Century Dr, Greenville, SC 29607

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Hill family may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Michigan Sociological Association c/o Alan Hill fund, Dr. R. Kirk Mauldin, Lake Superior State Univ. Sault St. Marie, MI 49783