While not “born on a mountaintop in Tennessee,” attorney David W. Hill was born among the mountains and rivers of East Tennessee, in Knoxville. His parents were each the first members of their immediate families to obtain college degrees, and they were determined that their children would also have the best educations possible. When Mr. Hill’s father died while Mr. Hill was very young, his mother – who did not know how to drive, did not own a car, and had no job – was faced with maintaining the family and raising two children by herself. However, she was not alone – extended family and neighbors assisted with the children and through helping on the farm, gardening, and performing other chores. Mr. Hill and his younger brother learned the value of hard work and family. During this time, Mr. Hill also developed a life-long love of animals. Following his father’s death, Mr. Hill’s mother found a job as a teacher. As a result of being a teacher’s son, Mr. Hill found that he had free run of the school’s library. Using that resource, he become an avid reader in many subjects, remaining near the top of his class throughout his public school education and winning a public speaking contest. He also picked up his mother’s love of music and musical skills (she had played the saxophone and sang publicly at various venues since her youth, and had even cut a couple of demo records), and joined the school band. He eventually earned the position of section leader in the band and learned the valuable lessons of teamwork and mutual accomplishment. He also learned that groups working together in a common interest can usually accomplish more than individuals. Pursuing his love of music, Mr. Hill enrolled in the music education program at Tennessee Technological University.