Darlington is pleased to announce that John Hine (’53) has been named the 2009
Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. He was honored today with a special luncheon and chapel service, kicking off the school’s Alumni Weekend celebration.
A native Roman, Hine graduated with honors from both Darlington School and the Georgia Institute of Technology. After college, he served two years of active duty as an officer in the United States Army. He then began working for Trend Industries, where he became senior vice president for manufacturing. In 1973, he left Trend to establish Pharr Yarns of Georgia, where he served as executive vice president and president for 23 years.
Professionally, Hine has served as director of the Georgia Textile Manufacturer’s Association, a director and member of the Executive Committee of the American Yarn Spinners Association and as president of the Textile Education Foundation.
Hine’s civic commitments have included membership to and service on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club, Coosa Valley Fair Association, Darlington School, the Exchange Club, the Exchange Club Family Resource Center, Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, the Open Door Children’s Home, Redmond Park Hospital and the United Way. He is also past chairman of the board of Citizen’s First Bank. In addition, Hine is an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where he has served as Sunday School teacher, chairman of the Stewardship and Property Committees, and as junior and senior warden.
For his service and dedication, Hine has received the Boys & Girls Club’s Man and Boy Award, the Boys Club of America Medallion, the Bronze Keystone Award, the Service to Youth Award, the National Keystone Award and the National Service to Youth Award; the Heart of the Community’s Award of Honor and Board of Governor’s Award; the Exchange Club’s Exchangite of the Year Award and Katie Dempsey Star Volunteer Award; and was inducted into the Academy of Georgia Tech Distinguished Alumni.
He and his wife, the former Sylvia Street, have been married 52 years. They have three children, Judy Beecham (’77), Susie Duke (’79) and John Jr., and seven grandchildren. Hine continues to be an active member of the Darlington Community. In addition to his service to the Board of Trustees, he is a member of the J.J. Darlington Society and the J. Daniel Hanks Sr. Heritage Society, and is a co-class agent of the Class of 1953.
“This school has been so important to me and my family,” Hine said in his address to students, faculty, alumni and trustees. “Education is so very important to your futures … Success in school equals success in life. Regardless of what you think right now, I assure you that one day you will all realize the profound effect that Darlington School had on your life.”
Nominees for the Distinguished Alumnus Award must have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas since graduating from Darlington or Thornwood – notable achievement within a professional field; service to his or her community, state or nation; service to the arts, sciences or humanitarian causes; or loyalty to Darlington. After nominations have been solicited from the alumni body, the award recipient is selected by an Executive Committee of the Alumni Council, composed of the president of the Alumni Council, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, and the director of alumni relations.
