NAMPA, Idaho – If you've been to a volleyball or basketball game at Northwest Nazarene University in the last 30 years, you likely have run into Ken Hills.

The former Vice President for Student Development for seven years at NNU made it a point to attend as many indoor sporting events as possible.

After all, the center court bears his last name.

Because of his lifelong support of Northwest Nazarene athletics and her student-athletes, Hills will be honored at the 40th Annual Legends Golf Classic which was scheduled for June 5, but has been canceled. Hills will be honored at the 2021 tournament.

"I've been involved in sports all my life," he said. "I've played basketball, baseball, football and track and field in high school. I've tried to support NNU and contribute every year."

Hills played junior varsity basketball for two years at Northwest Nazarene, while attending from 1948-52. He twisted his ankle both years, which left him on crutches and cost him any shot of playing varsity ball – though as he said, laughing, "I'm not sure I was good enough anyway."

His favorite moment on the court was when the Harlem Globetrotters came to Nampa and Hills was forced to guard Goose Tatum, who stood 6-foot-6.

"They were so good and they made fools of us," Hills said, "but we had a lot of fun."

After graduating with a degree in history and a minor in English, he taught in Boise schools for nine years. In the process, he watched his brother Orrin Hills' men's basketball teams as often as he could. 

The center court at the Johnson Sports Center is named for Ken's older brother, who coached the men's team for 19 years and is a member of the school's athletics hall of fame.

Ken's second son, Rich, also played basketball for Northwest Nazarene in the mid-1970s.

"Ken has been a long-time supporter of NNU Athletics in every sense of the word," NNU Athletics Director Kelli Lindley said. "He has been a season-ticket holder for many years, showing up for games win or lose. He has never wavered in his generous financial support of our student-athletes and I am certain he has spent countless hours praying for our coaches and staff."

Hills has played in every Legends Classic since he's been in Nampa. He didn't really start playing consistently until he was 79 but said he tries to play two or three times a week these days.

"I play for the exercise and the fellowship," he said. "I walk rather than ride in the cart. I've been able to shoot my age a few times, which is fun."

Hills led the student life department from 1992 to 1999, when he quasi-retired. He volunteered 10 more years in the counseling department with the master's program until retiring for good in 2009.

"Ken was at the forefront of Nazarene higher education for student development professionals," said Carey Cook, the Vice President of Student Development. "He was innovative, creative and a leader among his colleagues. Ken gave me my first opportunity at NNU and was a mentor helping me learn what it meant to care for the well-being of students.

"I have always said – and still say – if I have the energy that Ken Hills had when he retired, I would have more energy than I do now."

Hills served as the Vice President of Student Development at Point Loma Nazarene for 14 years, prior to returning to his alma mater. He received his Master's and Doctorate in Counseling from Wyoming, finishing in 1964.
He then went to Eugene, Ore., helping launch Lane Community College while working for the state of Oregon and the University of Oregon as well.

In 1978, he headed south to San Diego before returning to Idaho, where he still lives and supports Nighthawks athletics. He and his wife Marilyn, who passed away last summer, could be seen at home games sitting side by side rooting for the home team.

"Ken has always understood the value of athletics within the NNU community," Lindley said. "He has played a vital role in helping create a culture where our student-athletes are experiencing the very best in athletics, academics, spiritual formation and a community that loves them."