BDN publishes feature on Hill
The Bangor Daily News interviewed Richard “Dick” Hill, a University of Maine professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, for a feature article about his accomplishments and legacy. The 97-year-old has been the “voice of energy alternatives for two generations of Mainers” by not only teaching at UMaine, but also working as an energy consultant to industry and government, a clean-wood technology innovator and longtime radio commentator, according to the article. While at UMaine, Hill created and developed the Department of Industrial Cooperation, which provides fee-for-service technical help, research support, project management and other resources to private sector businesses and organizations, the article states. Jake Ward, UMaine’s vice president of innovation and economic development, came to work for Hill in 1991 and assumed leadership of the industrial cooperation program when Hill retired. “It was Dick’s firm belief that the university had public assets — abilities, expertise, equipment — that should be used to support private industry,” Ward said. “He saw this as a kind of public service, like the Cooperative Extension for Maine companies.”