Celebrating the Life, Legacy, and Activism of Opal L. Hill (OLH)
OLH Foundation Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Manayah Miller
Coach Nay is an experienced athlete with a passion for children. She was inspired to start a new track team when the organization she previously volunteered for relocated. As a Taylor Duck, she ran track and cross-country from middle school through high school. She played basketball as well. She held a Taylor High School Track record for Mile Relay from 2006-2018.
VICE PRESIDENT
Nakevia Miller
Coach Keyva is a graduate of Taylor High School with a BFA in Communication Design from Texas State University, She is an active member of the Taylor community due to her work with the Dickey Museum Task Force. She was a Taylor Hi-Stepper for 4 year (Captain as a Senior) and continued to lead a student-organized dance team at Texas State University called Harambee.
TREASURER
John Sawyer
Coach Sawyer is an active and influential member of the community. He spent many years serving as a deacon in multiple Central Texas churches; and organizing community events. Known in his Track days as the “Quarter Horse,” his sports resume boasts multiple state finalist positions for the mile run, mile relay, and 800 meter run, as well as All District First Team for Basketball and Track.
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MORE ABOUT
Opal L. Hill
Opal L. Hill was born June 2, 1926, and died January 5, 2016. Preceding her in death are her mother, Jessie L. Williams-Ross, her father, Tom “Poppa Tom” Ross, and stepfather L. W. Chase. Opal had two brothers, both preceding her in death, Wilbert Ross and John Ross Chase. Also preceding her in death are two of her children, James Sawyer, Jr. and Carolyn Sawyer-Jones. Ms. Opal is survived by four children, Lee Sawyer of San Diego, CA, Wanda Sawyer-Smith of Savannah, GA, David Jones of Round Rock, TX, and John Sawyer of Hutto, TX, as well as 28 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Opal L. Hill was born in Hutto, Texas on June 2, 1926. She attended school in Thrall, Texas and later moved to Austin, where she graduated from the old Anderson High School at age 15. Shortly after graduation, she moved back to Thrall to start her life, where she met and married James Sawyer, a member of the United States Armed Forces. The pair traveled the country, spending most of their time in California and later New York City. Her marriage to Sawyer produced 4 children, but did not withstand the trials of life. Opal later found love and a 5th child with Jimmy A. Jones of New York City. Before her return to Texas, a reunion with her first husband produced her 6th child. It was important to Opal for her children to grow up in a small, loving community, so she returned to Texas and raised them between Thrall and Taylor. Robert L. Hill, known as “Bubba D,” was her second husband and partner in all things—family, business, and politics.
In the late 1960s, with the support of her late mother, Jessie Chase, and stepfather, Lee Chase, she became a very powerful figure in the Taylor and Thrall communities. Ms. Opal helped many and inspired most. She never met a stranger and was always up for a business challenge. As an active advocate of the Civil Rights Movement, she participated in and held leadership positions in many central Texas democratic organizations, such as the Progressive Voter League of America for Social Benefits under the direction of Governor Dolph Briscoe in 1976. From leading one of the first Juneteenth Parades in Taylor to her various business ventures, Ms. Opal will be mostly remembered for fighting for integration in local schools. Her children were the 1st black students to attend Thrall ISD.
Ms. Opal loved God and cherished her family. She leaves behind a legacy of strong men and women to spread love and community amongst God’s children, as she did in her lifetime.