The Hillard Educational Trust

"The pursuit of knowledge is a responsibility.
Higher education is our privilege."
- T. A. Hillard

Supporting the educational dreams of Hillard family descendants through the legacy of Clarence and Lucille Hillard.

Clarence & Lucille Hillard

The End of an Era, The Beginning of a Legacy

Tom Brokaw called them "The Greatest Generation." They were a generation of men and women who knew how to make something from nothing. They took responsibility for their destiny, found resources where there were none, and knew how to work to create something new and valuable.

Working the raw earth with strong hands, they carved into the frontier of the West to make a new existence for themselves and for their families. This is the legacy of the Hillard Educational Trust, marking the end of an era in world history.

Now we stand to benefit from the integrity, perseverance, stamina, and hard work of these ancestors. They started with nothing. They asked for nothing. They worked for everything, and they left much behind.

The Hillard Family - Clarence on the far left

Meet Clarence and Lucille

Clarence Peter Hillard

Clarence Peter Hillard

Born: May 7, 1905, the fifth of eight children born to John Henry and Mary Elizabeth Pitz Hillard.

His family moved to a homestead in Crook County, Wyoming in 1912 where Clarence spent most of his young life. During these years he learned to live from the land and to forge a new life out of the prairie. During these years he developed a keen eye and a sixth sense that made him an exceptional hunter and fisherman.

His expertise and passion for the outdoors would follow him all his life. Clarence owned and operated a filling station in Sheridan Wyoming.

Lucille Roberts Hillard

Lucille Roberts Hillard

Born: September 19, 1913 in Elgin Nebraska to Otha Arthur and Stella May Sward Roberts. She too grew up in Crook County (about 6 miles from the Hillard Homestead).

From the early years Lucille had the heart of a teacher. As both a student and an educator she knew the value of education and how it can open doors to a better future. She graduated from Moorecroft High School with a Normal Training Teaching Certificate.

After the death of her mother, Lucille moved in with her dad, brother and sisters. She helped raise the family and took her siblings with her to the school in Riesland where she taught from 1931 to 1932. Later, she taught in Albee where she and two of her younger sisters lived in the schoolhouse.

These were difficult years and Lucille learned to get by with hard work and ingenuity. She became an expert gardener and seamstress. These were necessities at first, but later in life sewing and gardening would become her favorite hobbies.

The Hillard Family Tree

First Generation - The Immigrant

John Hillard
Born 04 November 1831 in Lorraine, France; died 30 October 1935 at Dubuque, Iowa. Married 1867-68 to Catherine Michelet (born 20 November 1849 in France, died 31 May 1906). A shoemaker who came to the U.S. with his brother Peter on the ship Zurich, arriving at New York on 06 April 1858.

Second Generation - The Pioneer

John H. Hillard
Born 21 February 1872; married 09 February 1897 to Mary E. Pitz (born about March 1874). A saloon keeper who later became a farmer.

Children of John H. Hillard:

John Joseph Hillard
Born 08 June 1898; married 12 December 1924 to Ethel M. Buckmiller. Worked in a gold mine.
Joseph Henry Hillard
Born 18 January 1900; died May 1978 at Buffalo.
Alfred Nicholas Hillard
Born 14 September 1901; died 12 May 1990; married 07 July 1927 to Evelyn Corinne Tinkcom. He was a barber.
Isabel Hillard
Born about 1903.
Clarence Peter Hillard
Born 07 May 1905; died 16 July 1993 at Rapid City, South Dakota; married 17 May 1934 to Lucille Dorothy Roberts (born 19 September 1913, died 21 September 1999). Founders of the Hillard Educational Trust
Ernest A. Hillard
Born about 1907 in South Dakota. Buried at Buffalo.
Earl Hillard
Born 03 October 1913 in Wyoming; died 26 October 1996 at Buffalo.
Francis Hillard
Born 20 January 1916 in Wyoming; died October 1976 at Cheyenne.

Current Trust Beneficiaries

Descendants of Clarence and Lucille's Siblings
The trust is available to natural and adoptive descendants of the siblings of Clarence and Lucille Hillard who were born before Lucille died in 1999. The trust is currently closed to further recipients.
Clarence at his station

Purpose of the Trust

To provide financial support for the post-secondary education efforts of the natural and adoptive descendants of the siblings of Clarence and Lucille Hillard.

The intent is to enable students to be better able to serve our families, our communities, our world and our God through the wisdom, skills and experiences gained through higher learning.

Clarence with raccoon

Request Educational Assistance

Take a moment to learn about our requirements and legacy before applying.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Descendants only: Trust funds are available to the descendants of Clarence and Lucille's siblings born before Lucille died. The trust is currently closed to further recipients.
  • Academic performance: Students must maintain a 2.5 or better GPA each semester.
  • Course completion: If a student drops more than two classes in a semester, they will lose financial support for the following semester.
  • Refund policy: Any refunds from dropped classes must be returned to the Hillard Trust immediately.

🌟 New Community Service Requirement - "Paying It Forward"

In order to perpetuate Clarence and Lucille's spirit of giving in the next generation, the Trustees are adding a new requirement for scholarship eligibility — something that will increase our appreciation for their generosity toward us and give us the incentive to "paying it forward" to others.

Recipients will now be required to:

  1. Fulfill five hours of community service each semester in an area outside of your normal sphere of involvement. This might include things like Special Olympics, police "Ride-a-Long" programs, food banks, homeless shelters, Adopt-a-Highway programs, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels etc.
  2. Submit a 300-600 word essay on your experience. (That's about one half to one full page.) This report must include the dates of service and contact name and number of a person who can verify your service. The report can be submitted in hard copy or by email with your application for the next semester's distribution.

We look forward to seeing how you will make the world a little better because of your involvement in the Hillard Educational Trust!

If GPA requirements are not met, support is terminated until requirements are restored in subsequent semesters.

Trust Guidelines

  • Variable funding: Distribution amounts may change based on trust investments and number of recipients.
  • Approved institutions: Classes must be taken at certified institutions of higher learning, including vocational and traditional colleges.
  • Direct distribution: Funds are distributed directly to students for their discretion.
  • Part-time limitations: Part-time students receive assistance for tuition, fees, and textbooks only - no room, board, computers, or supplies.

Educational institutions are evaluated individually and subject to trustee approval.

Ready to Apply?

You've learned about our eligibility requirements and guidelines. Download your application below.

Remember: It is the recipient's responsibility to notify trustees of address changes and to maintain contact regarding scholarship assistance.

📄 Download Application PDF

Contact the Trustee

Please email any questions to: trustee@hillardtrust.com

Hillard Educational Trust
2209 Westview Trail
Denton, TX 76207

"God's best to each of you. May the legacy created by Clarence and Lucille live on through us as we invest what they entrusted to us for the future generations."