A little over a week ago, a treasured member of the Meridian community passed away. Lila Hill was a mother, pianist, crafter, writer, and historian. She was dedicated to preserving our city’s history, ensuring that future generations would always have a deep connection with the people and places that shaped Meridian.

Lila made Meridian her home in 1952 and moved to south Meridian in 1964. Over the decades, she became an integral part of our city’s story, serving as the City of Meridian Historian for more than 30 years. She was a founding member of the Meridian Historical Society, shared her love of the City by writing two books about the history of Meridian, and wrote a weekly column in The Valley Times newspaper called A Look Back in Time. The History Center, currently located here at City Hall, is a testament to Lila’s drive to preserve the history of Meridian.

Additionally, Lila led historical tours of City Hall and the Pine Street Schoolhouse next to Meridian Elementary for local elementary students. She was a champion of Meridian’s past and made sure we all knew and remembered our heritage as a city.

Her dedication to the City of Meridian included being named Meridian Woman of the Year by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce in 1992, and she received the Mayor’s Legacy Award in 2005. Ada County and the Ada County Historic Preservation Council awarded her the Making History Award in 2017, which honors people whose activities are creating future history. Lila’s impact on our community is immeasurable. Whether through her historical work, her music, or her volunteer service, she touched the lives of many.

I met Lila early on in my career with the City of Meridian in 2007. It wasn’t uncommon for our conversations over the next decade to be one-sided about what needed to be taken care of. But over the last few years, when I saw Lila, it wasn’t about what I was doing right or wrong as Mayor. Rather, it was a smile with a shared connection to this community and those who call it home.

On behalf of the City of Meridian, we extend our deepest condolences to Lila’s family and loved ones. I will miss her wisdom, knowledge, and the person she was, and hope we can say thank you to Lila for helping preserve Meridian’s past for future generations.