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H. DALE HILTON ’36, associate director of the Emeriti Center at USC and a career Navy officer and World War II veteran who was airborne during the attack on Pearl Harbor, died in his Pasadena, Calif., home Sept. 27, 2000. He was 87.
Over the past decade, Hilton was a frequent lecturer for the USC Emeriti Center’s community service program, speaking on topics ranging from national security and aviation to higher education. His most popular lectures included, “Using United States Power More Effectively in the Post-Cold War World,” “United States Security Strategies in the World Today,” and “Political Military Relations with the New Russian State.”
Hilton, who earned his engineering degree in 1936 from USC, returned to campus in 1968 as executive director of the USC Alumni Association, then called the General Alumni Association. He was subsequently named associate vice president of University Affairs.
“He was fully devoted to the university and brought outstanding leadership skills,” said Paul E. Hadley, director of the Emeriti Center. “He was a distinguished naval service veteran who we were proud to be associated with.”
In 1999, Hilton won the first annual Leibovitz Foundation award for distinguished voluntary service to senior citizens by a USC staff retiree. Hilton, who previously received both the Alumni Service and Alumni Merit awards, oversaw nearly a dozen annual fundraising campaigns for the Emeriti Center.
AFTER GRADUATING from USC, he joined Pensacola Flight School, where he earned his Navy wings in 1937. He was in the air group of the USS Enterprise at the start of WW II. In addition to being airborne during the attack on Pearl Harbor, he participated in an air raid on the Marshall Islands. After further combat in the central Pacific, he was shot down and became a prisoner of war. He was released after the war ended. Following the war, Hilton was the executive officer of the USS Princeton, the commanding officer of the USS Manua Kea and captain and commanding officer of the USS Lexington. He retired from the Navy in 1965 to become president of King Motors.
Hilton is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dori; his daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Bob Turill; and two grandchildren, Steven and Allison. Contributions may be made to the Emeriti Center, USC, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
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