09/09/2026
It is our honor to announce the appointment of ROGER HILL as Board EMERITUS for The Education Foundation. This is a lifetime position as a board advisor to recognize Roger's distinguished service and significant contributions.
Here is Roger's story, in his own words:
Central De Witt is my school, class of 1965! My family has lived in Iowa for seven generations. I live on a farm in Eden Township that has been in my family since 1850. Following High School, I graduated from Clinton Community College and Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant. I worked as a Bank Trust Officer for 51 years, ten years at The Clinton National Bank and 41 years at DeWitt Bank & Trust Company. In 1973 I married Pamela Kleiber. Pam is a Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing. We have two daughters and five grandchildren. My interests include Pure Bred Angus Cattle, collecting antique tractors and Choral Singing. I am a current Director for Central De Witt Schools. I am an Eden Township Trustee, Treasurer of the Low Moor Lions Club, a member of the De Witt Area Fine Arts Foundation as well as the LincolnWay Community Foundation and Central De Witt Education Foundation.
Teachers have been the most important people in my life and I think of some them every day. The concept of a Community Foundation began with a group formed to restore and renovate The Opera House Theatre, De Witt Area Restoration of Theatre (DART). Longtime De Witt resident Lillain H. Fell (1905-1992) passed January 24, 1992. In her Will, she made a bequest for a Community Foundation. She further went on to say, “If one does not exist, start one.” This was the beginning of the De Witt Area Community Foundation, now the Lincolnway Community Foundation. Over time we had several bequests to establish scholarship endowments and funds to support education. For example, in 1996 over $ 6,500.00 in grants and scholarships were awarded. At that time, a group of folks met to discuss the formation of a separate Education Foundation as an affiliate of the Community Foundation. That group included the following: Patricia Henricksen, Tricia Thayer, Brian Volkens, Wes Witte, Mary Rueter, Gloria Malooly, Mark Hilton, Mark Selby and myself. Our Central De Witt Superintendent of Schools, Dan Roe was an excellent source of leadership and wisdom as well.
Today, the Education Foundation has 43 separate Endowments. Teacher Grants are supported by 16 Endowments and Scholarships are supported by 25 Endowments in addition there are two Endowments the income from which supports the expense of the Foundation itself. The Education Foundation is a wonderful vehicle to provide a home for an Endowment without having to set up a Private Foundation, prepare tax returns and do your own investing. We are very pleased with the returns provided to the Education Foundation by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, as our Manager. If you have an interest in Education. The Central Education Foundation is a wonderful way to provide support now and forever.
Central DeWitt Community School District
