In Memoriam: Bill Hildebolt By Jill Odom
BILL HILDEBOLT, FORMER PRESIDENT OF NALP, WHICH WAS KNOWN as Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) at the time, passed away in Winston- Salem, North Carolina, on March 28 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 76 years old. Hildebolt earned a Bachelor of Sci- ence in food technology and then went on to receive his Masters and Doctorates in food science at Ohio State University. After graduating in 1969, he joined the Campbell Soup Company where he eventually became the vice president of product and development.
One of his most notable develop- ments during this time was the Prego spaghetti sauce. Hildebolt wrote about this accomplishment in his book It’s in There! “Talking to Bill about the food industry,
technology and advancements and all the products developed was so incredibly interesting,” says Barbara Stropko, owner of New Desert Gallery, Inc. based in Tuc- son, Arizona. “His stories of coming up with initial ideas, the process, successes and failed products, presentations of the products and getting to see the fruition of the final product were so funny and amazing. What we don’t know that goes into research and development of food products!” In 1994, Hildebolt shifted from the food industry to the green industry when he started Nature’s Select Premium Turf Services and pioneered biologically enhanced lawn care services. He joined the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) board of directors in 2002 and shortly after- wards PLCAA entered discussions of merging with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). In 2005, the two became known as PLANET. He became PLANET’s president in
2009 and one of his personal charges while in this position was to share the message that becoming an association member and taking advantage of its re- sources would raise the professionalism of the industry.
“Bill’s impact on our association is seen everywhere,” says Jon Cundiff, president of Weed Man. “His wisdom and insights on the association’s initiatives have guided NALP to what it is today.” Stropko says Hildebolt was a giver. One example of this is when he sold his
book The Professional Entrepreneur: When Cowboys Grow Up at a summer leadership meeting and all the proceeds went back into the scholarship fund. “He always did what was best for the industry and he was always very respectful of others’ opinions,” says David Snodgrass, owner of Dennis’ 7 Dees Landscape, based in Portland, Oregon. “He had great leadership skills and got things done.”
“Many people knew Bill as a fine and dedicated leader in the lawn and land- scape industry, which he most certainly was, however, there was so much more to him,” Stropko says. “He loved his fam- ily, loved his farm, he was an educator, a researcher, a developer, he was creative, he was an author, an entrepreneur, a corporate leader, a business owner, a craftsman, a traveler and much more. He had accomplished much in his life!” Cundiff says the best times with Hil-
debolt would be when they were playing golf or having dinner and listening to the insights only he could bring to the conversation. Cundiff says Hildebolt had a way of identifying the core of an issue. “I would describe Bill as a strategic thinker who was very passionate for our industry,” Cundiff says. “Mostly, I would describe Bill as you would be very for- tunate to call Bill a lifelong friend. I have been very blessed to be one of Bill’s association friends.” Snodgrass says Hildebolt was a thoughtful individual who you wanted to be around.
“I think Bill held himself to a very high standard,” Snodgrass says. “He was al- ways looking to learn more or experience more. He was a person of adventure. He would just do, rather than think someday he may do that.” Hildebolt also had a love of nature, and a special attraction to old-growth trees and woodworking. Snodgrass says when they visited the Camp 18 Logging Museum in Elsie, Oregon, Hildebolt was like a kid in a candy store. “He was a gifted woodworker, a craftsman,” Stropko says. “I was blessed
to be the recipient of a beautiful bowl and one of his famous cutting boards. Knowing my love of colorful fall leaves and me living in the desert of Arizona, he called and told me to keep checking my mail. I had received a package full of the magnificent leaves I love, yellows, oranges, reds. He said his farm was ‘leaf paradise!’” Stropko says it is an unfortu- nate loss for those who did not have the opportunity to meet Hildebolt as he is a testament to living life well. “He was a very genuine guy,” Sno- dgrass says. “He was very unassuming. He was intelligent but he didn’t have an ego. He was extremely likable. He always did what’s best for the industry; there was no personal agenda. There were no grudges, it was just live the day for the day and get the best out of it and enjoy it.” Hildebolt is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandi, his sons William Hazen and Joseph, his grandchildren Hannah and Hazen as well as his brother Jim and sister Mary Ann. TLP
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