Feb. 1, 2011
Shaun Hill is a living testament for how a father's guiding hand can leave a lifelong imprint on his athlete son by providing direction and setting standards that put him on a path to achieve his goals.
Ted Hill is being remembered by friends and colleagues for what he imparted as a coach and education administrator that resulted in Shaun becoming an NFL quarterback whose respect from teammates and coaches is greater than his statistics.
Ted Hill died Saturday from injuries sustained in a fall while helping Shaun repair a barn roof on property owned by Shaun in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. Ted Hill was 60.
As a multiple-sport coach in Parsons, Kan., Ted taught fundamentals and instilled mental discipline at an early age that contributed to Shaun playing nine NFL seasons.
There are parents in all levels of sports and entertainment who wear the accomplishments of their children like merit badges and seek the limelight at every turn.
Ted Hill did neither. He also allowed his sons, Shaun and Ryan, to carve out their own levels of interest in competing in sports.
Shaun started 10 games for the Detroit Lions in 2010 and played a key role in the Lions' posting a 6-10 record in a turnaround season.
Ted was an assistant football coach at Parsons High and also coached boys and girls basketball.
"When he (Shaun) was little, he and the other coaches' sons were the ball boys at football games," Don Barcus, former head coach and assistant coach at Parsons and a close friend of the Hill family, said in a telephone interview. "They (the kids) were always around. They played all sports.
"I remember when Shaun was born. That's how far we go back. Ted was very proud of his sons, but he never blew their horn. They're all class people. Just class
