American Legion Past National Commander Clarence Hill takes over the role this year after 26 years taking part in Florida Boys State.
Since 1997, American Legion Past National Commander Clarence Hill has been involved with Florida Boys State all but three years: from 2008, while campaigning for and then serving as national commander.
His roles have included both city and party counselor for more than 10 years, as well as currently chairing the selection committee for Boys State scholarships. And long before all that, Hill was a delegate at Buckeye Boys State in Ohio in 1967.
But over the next eight days, Hill is in Arlington, Va., assuming a role he said was both a shock to be offered and a no-brainer to accept: that of American Legion Boys Nation director.
It’s the first time Hill has been back to Boys Nation since 2010, toward the end of his year as national commander. He was asked to take over the role earlier this year for a program that brings in 100 high school students representing 49 states to learn the processes of the federal government while also taking part in multiple offsite trips. This year’s senators arrive July 18.
“I was shocked, surprised. It was totally unexpected,” Hill said of being offered the position. “It was never on my radar that I’d ever be in a position to be offered that opportunity. It came as a total surprise, and when they said, ‘What do you think about it,’ I said, ‘Dream job.’
“I’ve been doing Boys State forever and will continue to do it. Being offered this opportunity was just incredible.”
Hill said he’s kept coming back to Florida Boys State – which takes place at Florida State University in the state capital of Tallahassee – for 26 years because of the quality of the program and the opportunities it provides the participants.
“We get to use the (Florida State) Capitol, so the kids that get elected House and Senate sit in the House and Senate,” he said. “The (Boys State) governor uses the cabinet room. The Supreme Court goes across the street and puts the robes on, and we give them court cases. The program has evolved over the years, and things have been added. It’s just a great program. It’s improved so much over the years.”
Hill remembers the impact that Boys State made on its participants when he served as a counselor. “There are some kids that at the beginning of the week you can hardly get them to talk, and by the end of the week you can’t shut them up,” he said. “The transformation in some of the kids is incredible. There was a kid who lost every election he ran for. (Then), he not only won the election for Supreme Court, but he got the most votes and was chief justice.
“To see the reaction on the kids when something like that happens is just incredible. You see so much development.”
Hill admits this week will be a learning experience as much as anything for him. But it’s one he’s looking forward to experiencing.
“I’ve never been here start to finish,” he said. “It’s a ‘wow’ kind of thing that I’m looking forward to what is going to happen. I came here to share in the experience and see what it’s like, and then maybe next year having some of my own thoughts and things like that.”
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