Awards

The Media School Distinguished Alumni Award - 2011

Honorary Degree - 1971

LL.D.

Doctor of Laws

Business Golden Anniversary

Bloomington, Indiana

Presenter: John William Ryan

Distinguished Alumni Service Award - 1967

About John Wiley Hill

John W. Hill, LHD'71, was co-founder of Hill & Knowlton, a leading international communications consultancy with 80 offices in 44 countries. A native of Shelbyville, Ind., Hill studied journalism at IU from 1910 to 1912, before leaving for an 18-year career as a newspaper entrepreneur, reporter, editor and financial columnist. In 1927, he opened a public relations office in Cleveland, Ohio, and after a client's bank went out of business during the Depression, he took into partnership its public relations director, Donald Knowlton.

In 1934, Hill moved the company headquarters to New York to counsel the American Iron and Steel Institute. Other clients included trade associations and companies such as Proctor & Gamble, Texaco and Gillette. He led the company until 1962 and remained involved with it until his death in 1977.