This past January, many of the wargamers who play tested Johnny Reb for my father, John Hill, when he was developing the game came together to remember him. Since January is the month my father passed away, many of his long-time friends decided to come together during the month of the first anniversary since his passing to remember my father, his contributions and of course, to play a wargame. Randy Black, long-time friend of my father’s, going back to when our family resided in Indiana, coordinated the event at his home in his basement where Randy has a complete collection of all wargames designed by John Hill. Randy took some pictures to remember the day. The featured image is of the group who were in attendance. All of the gamers in the picture play tested Johnny Reb in my family’s old basement we had in the house I grew up in located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
This picture is of Rand Black on the left with Norris Darrall on the right
This picture is an over head shot of my father’s works. You can get more information about his individual games he designed by going to the page wargames designed by John Hill.
This picture is of the group of six wargamers who play tested games for John Hill. In the front row left to right is Carl Vandevender and Dennis Seig. In the back row left to right is John Goff, Randy Black, Norris and John Jones.
All of them play tested Johnny Reb in the old basement in the house in West Lafayette, Indiana.
I wish to thank everyone who continues to follow this blog and their support and continued efforts to keep the memory of John Hill, well renowned wargame designer, alive. They say when someone who love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure. Good-byes are not forever, nor are they the end. They simple mean, “We will miss you until we meet again!” Those memories of John Hill of his friends, fellow gamerrs and family are true treasures of a truly magnificent and accomplished man.
Please feel free to leave comments below. Have a wonderful day and much gratitude goes out to Randy and the other gamers who came together for the John Hill Remembrance Day 2016.
I’m very sorry to hear about John’s death. I bought many of my miniatures and games at the Scale Model Shop in Lafayette. Many of my favorite games are John’s designs. I’m very sorry for your loss and for my hobby’s loss.
Hi Roger:
Your comment about the Scale Model Shop bought back many memories for me. I literally grew up in that shop. I was a toddler when my father opened up that store. My first word was “train” because of the time I spent in that store. My mother arranged to have the school bus pick me up and drop me off at the store because that was where our family spent so much of our time.
Thank you so much for your condolences. And, thank you so much for leaving a wonderful comment on this site. I hope you come back soon.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Stephanie, I knew John for many years. Dennis at Little Soldier in Alexandria used to tell me about John’s group in Manassas. Unfortunately my work schedule didn’t allow me the time. So I met John at HMGS cons. We often talked about wargaming and later his health. I miss him greatly. He was a very congenial gentleman to know. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Hi Maynard:
Thank you for discussing your connection to my father and how you met him at the HMGS cons. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Naschon 2016 is going to be this coming weekend at the Franklin Cool Springs Marriott in Tennessee. Norris Darrall mentioned on Facebook that there was going to be a tribute to my father on Saturday night. I hope you are going to be able to attend. I, unfortunately, will not be there, but if you happen to take any pictures, please feel free to email them to me at stephaniehill@acrossadeadlyfield.com and I will be sure to include them on this website, giving you full credit, of course.
I have never heard of the Little Soldier store in Alexandria, Virginia, but I did some Internet research and it looks like it went out of business in 2011. Thatis a shame. My father did indeed used to facilitate wargames out of our home in Manassas when I was a little girl. He had his HUGE wargaming table in the large family room we had.
Many thanks again for connecting here. I hope to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
I think it is always difficult to face the fact when someone you love passed away. But I think your father will be able to watch what you have done for him and will be glad about it. And I truly believe the same as you said, when someone who love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure. I have the same felling about my father, too.
Wish you the best
Louis
Hi Louis:
Thank you for the kind words. And yes, when someone we love passes away that memory becomes a treasure. Have a truly remarkable day and God Bless!
Sincerely
Stephanie
I think this is a really nice thing you did for your father. He sounds like he was a very creative an inspiring individual, it’s a pity he had to leave this Earth before doing even more wargames as I can see he had a very illustrious career as a wargamer . It’s obvious that everyone loved him. Good job Steph!
Joeka
Thank you Joeka. You are correct in that my father did have a very successful career as a wargamer. He had a passion and he stuck with it.
HI Stephanie,
What a powerful tribute you did in this article in rememberance of your dad. The content that you wrote with such loving passion as well as the photo images of your dad and his friends participating in a hobby that they all loved was just so heart-warming to read.
My dad passed away almost 22 years ago now in Oct. of 1994 at a relatively young age of 63. He was my life-long role model. There’s hardly a day that goes by where I at some moment don’t think about him. His death back in 1994 really affected me psychologically.
I know what it feels like to lose a parent, (my mom passed away in 2012) so I want to share with you my 100% condolence for your loss Stephanie.
Your dad’s hobby was participating in war games. My dad’s hobby was in building and then running remote electric trains. After he retired, but unfortunately not able to devote a lot of time on as within a year he got sick, my dad had built a large track and collecting various trains that took up what once was my bedroom room growing up.
A superb article, Stephanie! It was my distinct pleasure in reading it!
Sincerely,
Jeff
Hi Jeff:
Thank you for the kind words about this tribute site to my father. Just for clarification sake, my father is not in the specific pictures that are featured in this article. My father passed away in January 2015 and those pictures are very recent photos taken of friends and fellow wagramers that my father worked with.
My father’s hobby was more than just participating in wargames. He actually designed wargames. He designed many wargames. You can view a list of all of the wargames he designed. His most recent wargame was Across A Deadly Field: War the West, hence, the name of this URL. My father was named in the Hall of Fame Origins in 1979 for his wargaming achievements. He won several awards for his wargaming designs.
My condolences on the loss of your father. Also, my even deeper condolences on the recent loss of your mother, only a few years ago. That must be so hard. I am terribly sorry for your great losses. My father was not much older than your Dad was when your he passed away. Your Dad passed away at 63 years of age and my father was 69. Like your father, my Dad did not get to enjoy retirement for very long. You can read more about my father and his obituary, by visiting additional links.
I have no doubt that each of our fathers would have gotten along well with each other because our fathers shared a same hobby and that is with trains. My post on John and his trains provides some insight into my father’s hobby as a railroader. He had a huge garden scale railroad set up in his backyard. His railroad was featured once on the front cover of Model Railroading magazine. We still have many of my father’s trains in the garage and in the backyard.
Thank you again for visiting and for reading the article. I hope you come back again soon and read some more about the accomplishments of my father.
Have a wonderful day!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Hill (AKA John Hill’s daughter)
Wow Stephanie, what a beautiful idea you have here, remembering your dad in this way. I found your site really interesting.
Thanks for sharing with us,
Marilyn
Thank you Marilyn for visiting. I certainly appreciate the kind compliments. Have a wonderful day!
Hi Stephanie, what a wonderful site! The loss of a parent is difficult but it’s not forever. What a great idea to create a site in tribute to your father who you obviously loved very much and I am sure your father’s fans appreciate it as well.
Best wishes,
Eloah
Hi Eloah:
Thank you kindly for visiting this tribute site. I am glad that it is obvious to see how much I loved my father. I hope his fans appreciate but I am sure they do. Please feel free to visit anytime.
Sincerely
Stephanie
Your father must be a great war game designer and much loved by his fans.
I agree that good byes are not forever. We will meet again eventually.
I hope my daughter will make a tribute like this for her parents.
Hi Arief:
Thank you for stopping by and checking out this post regarding the John Hill Remembrance Day. I have no doubt your daughter will do the same for you. Have a wonderful day!
Your father sounds like he was a very interesting and well respected man. Great to see the over head shot of your father’s work and his fellow wargamers.
thanks for the article
Suzanne
Thank you Suzanne for stopping today and commenting on this post. I appreciate it. Yes, my father was a very interesting and well respected gentleman.
Sincerely
Stephanie