Gene Hill

Gene Hill takes over at Highland

Less than a year ago, Calhoun County officials couldn't have felt more far removed from the East Camden Ordnance Area than when the bunker exploded in the area and they felt left out in the cold.Times have changed. Positions have changed.The new president and chief executive officer of Highland Industrial Park has Calhoun County ties and he wants to have a good working relationship with both Calhoun County and Ouachita County.Gene Hill of Hampton took over at Highland Industrial Park on June 7. One of the first things he did to make sure things work smoothly with the Calhoun County officials and Highland officials was to sit down and talk with Sheriff Sam Oliver. Oliver and he worked out a plan that allows Highland access to Calhoun County's radio frequency making emergency communication a real priority. "I want a good working relationship with the county and the county officials," Hill said.Oliver affirmed the relationship. "Hill was very cooperative. He came out and sat down and talked. If they have a problem over there, I'll think we'll be able to handle it," Oliver said of the new CEO.Hill has been affiliated with Calhoun County for a lot of years. He began his career in South Arkansas in 1978 when he joined GOEX, Inc. in East Camden as operations manager and in 1979 he became assistant plant manager there. In 1983, he was named plant manager for the Arkansas operations of GOEX, Inc.In 1985 he became an owner/partner in the position of vice president for HITECH. His father, Jim Hill, and his father's two partners, John Herron Sr., and David Levey started HITECH in Woodberry in 1983. Hill's father passed away in 1985. The three founding partners, all now deceased, started out with 20 acres of land on the old Silliman land, Hill said. By the time Hill left in November of 2001, HITECH, now General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, had 700 acres.But that was then. Now Hill is head of the entire Highland Industrial Park and oversees more than 13,700 acres of land that provides jobs for those in Calhoun and Ouachita Counties, and surrouding areas. "I think this industry has served Calhoun and Ouachita Counties well for a long time. It's a first class operation and we'll continue to attract business for the area."Hill said he doesn't have any plans for any immediate changes, but said that everybody has different management styles and eventually he might see something he wants done differently. He believes Highland is a good company and has always had good management and doesn't feel the need to make changes.He is married to Lynne Raney Hill, owner of Lynne Raney Audiology in El Dorado.Editor's Note: I've lived in this area long enough that I just had to ask Hill if there was any connection between Highland and Lady Bird Johnson. He said he too had asked that question. "Ever since I've been here, I've heard that story. I've asked too, if it makes you feel any better. There is no connection and never has been any connection," Hill said. Look for a future article on Highland Industrial Park.