Willis J. Pierre

Willis J. Pierre was a distinguished educator, historian, and avid baseball enthusiast whose 32-year tenure at The Hill School left an indelible mark on the institution and its community. Born on January 14, 1938, in Princeton, New Jersey, to Margaret W. and George L. Pierre, he grew up attending public schools in the area before graduating from The Hun School in 1956. Pierre pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Jefferson College and a Master's degree in teaching from Washington State University. His early career began at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois, where he honed his skills as a mathematics instructor before joining The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, around the late 1960s.

At The Hill School, Pierre served as a dedicated mathematics teacher for 32 years, retiring in the early 2000s. He was renowned for his innovative teaching methods and commitment to student success, earning numerous accolades including seven grants from the National Science Foundation, grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and support from the Mathematics Education Trust to publish a geometry book written by his students, titled *Geometry According to US*. Additional honors included the Kohl Teaching Award and the Disney Outstanding Teacher Award. Beyond the classroom, Pierre contributed to campus life as the coach of the 1975 junior basketball squad and compiled photo albums documenting school construction and historical views from around 1900-1901.

Pierre's passion for writing extended his influence far beyond teaching. He authored *DLSF*, a book reflecting on his teaching career, as well as *A Tablet on a Wall* and numerous articles for magazines and journals on topics including teaching, mathematics, and his lifelong love of baseball. His deep interest in The Hill School's legacy inspired him to become its unofficial historian, culminating in the two-volume work *Whatsoever Things Are True* (published in 2009), which chronicles the school's 158-year history through archival research, letters, directories, maps, photos, and newspaper clippings from Pottstown. These volumes highlight key figures—faculty, staff, and students—who shaped the institution, presented as a "labor of love" with memorable photographs. He also delivered presentations on the school's history, such as a 2007 talk emphasizing its buildings.

In retirement, Pierre remained active, pursuing hobbies like collecting baseball memorabilia, coins, and autographs, while developing skills in photography and art. His love for baseball, which began in childhood, evolved into a vast collection that defined much of his personal life. He resided in a retirement community, where he was featured for his enduring enthusiasm. Pierre passed away on June 8, 2018, following a brief illness, at the age of 80. The Hill School community gathered to honor his life and legacy, reflecting on his roles as an outstanding teacher and dedicated historian. In tribute, the school established the Willis J. Pierre Memorial Hall as part of its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020, a category honoring pre-World War II nominees in recognition of his historical interests and service on the selection committee. Pierre is remembered fondly by students, friends, and family for his intellect, kindness, and profound impact on education.

History of The Hill School

The Hill School, a coeducational preparatory boarding and day school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has a storied history spanning over 170 years, as meticulously documented by historians like Willis J. Pierre in his works. Founded on May 1, 1851, by the Reverend Matthew Meigs, a Yale-educated Presbyterian minister and former president of Delaware College, it began as The Family Boarding School for Boys and Young Men with an initial enrollment of 25 students. This model was innovative for its time, housing students on campus in a family-like setting rather than with local families, distinguishing it from traditional academies and emphasizing classical education and moral development.

In 1876, Meigs' son, John Meigs, assumed leadership at age 24 and elevated the school to national prominence through curriculum expansions and facility improvements. The institution was renamed The Hill School in 1874, reflecting its hillside location. It joined an elite cadre of boarding schools established in the late 19th century, such as Phillips Exeter and Hotchkiss, though its family-style approach predated many. The school remained all-boys until 1998, when it transitioned to coeducation, enhancing diversity and appeal.

Over its 158-year history (as of Pierre's 2009 publication), The Hill School has been shaped by remarkable faculty, staff, and students, as chronicled in Pierre's *Whatsoever Things Are True* volumes, which draw from extensive archives including headmasters' letters, directories, maps, photos, and local newspaper clippings. Key milestones include enduring historical events like the Civil War and the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood, preserved in the school's archives. Traditions such as family-style seated meals, twice-weekly nondenominational Chapel services, and a formal dress code persist, fostering a sense of community on its 200-acre campus. Today, with about 530 students from 31 states and 19 countries, a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio, 21 Advanced Placement courses, and programs like a four-year engineering sequence, the school continues to blend historical excellence with modern innovation, proximate to major cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C. The archives, enriched by contributions like Pierre's photo compilations, ensure its legacy connects past and future.