Roll Call Tribute

Sam F. Hill, III 

December 5, 1950 - July 18, 2025 

Samuel F. Hill, III, affectionately known as Sam, passed away July 18, 2025, in Beaumont, Texas, at the age of 74. He was born Dec. 5, 1950, to Samuel F. Hill Jr. and Dorothy Barrow Hill. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. Sam lived an active life of service to his family, his community and his country.

After graduating from Anahuac High School in 1969, Sam joined the United States Marine Corps. He volunteered to go to Vietnam, but was instead sent to Okinawa, Japan, by a fellow Texan. Sam was honorably discharged in 1973 and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Shooting Badge, and Pistol Marksmanship Shooting Badge among others.

He was proud of his service and served well, but he hit his stride as a father and husband. In the summer of 1973, he began visiting his friend and classmate Charles McManus everyday, allegedly to hunt ducks. However, it soon became apparent that his true purpose was to see Charles’ sister, Peggy McManus. It didn’t take long for the two to fall in love. Sam and Peggy married Dec. 30, 1973.

A girl dad through and through, Sam was adored by his daughters, Danni Hill Wilber, Amy Hill Turner, Katie Hill and Christine Hill Huff. He raised no princesses, teaching them anything he would have taught a son. People often asked Sam and Peggy if they kept having kids in order to get a son. This question aggravated Sam, and he often responded no and that he loved his girls.

Sam could be found coaching their softball teams, teaching them to shoot, buying them whatever books they wanted at Walden’s Bookstore in Baytown and essentially teaching them they could achieve whatever they wanted. While he refused to buy designer clothes for them, he made sure they all drove safe vehicles and were educated.

Like their parents, all four of Sam and Peggy’s daughters graduated from Texas A&M University, where strangely enough, no building is dedicated to them to this day. Sam earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism and used it to ruthlessly edit his daughters’ school essays.

After graduating from Texas A&M in 1977, Sam and Peggy returned to their hometown of Anahuac. Sam joined the family business at Hill’s Grocery, where he ran the meat market for several decades. Although he was an owner, Sam didn’t ask any employee to do something he wouldn’t do himself. He cleaned floors, wrapped hamburger meat and changed those damn fluorescent light bulbs. He often enlisted Peggy and the girls to help him unload frozen food from freezers that were going out. Sam also represented Hill’s Grocery at the Youth Project Show auction, generously supporting the youth of Chambers County.

Sam served his community as a Boy Scout leader, school board member, hospital board member, T-ball and softball coach, and member and past Commander of the American Legion Freeman Spath Post 104.

In his younger days, Sam enjoyed hunting, especially ducks, with his good friends Dick Chambliss and David Kirkham. He was a history aficionado, especially World War II. His family suspected he had a photographic memory, as he could easily recall dates, names and events that he read about, even years later.

Sam was a man of few words, but his example of service, hard work and fairness spoke volumes to his family and his community.

Sam is survived by his wife of 51 years, Peggy McManus Hill; daughters Danni Wilber, and husband Chad; Amy Turner and husband Rhett, Katie Hill, and Christine Huff and husband Ryan “Mickey”; his grandchildren Jake, Matt and Joe Previte; Marlow and Tess Turner; and Sean, Jesse and Roy Huff; 10 nieces and nephews; his brother- and sister-in-law Howard and Donna Davis; his longtime friend and brother-in-law Charles McManus; his sister-in-law Debbie McManus.

He was preceded in death by his parents Samuel F. Hill, Jr. and Dorothy Barrow Hill; his brother Charles Hill; his brother-in-law Scott McManus; his sister-in-law Brenda McManus; and his unborn son, who likely would have been named Jim after Sam’s uncle Jim Marshall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Sam’s memory to the Freeman Spath American Legion Post 104 or the Anahuac First Methodist Church.