Robert Hillin

Robert N. Hillin, 98, was born on September 11, 1918 in Mt. Calm, Texas and received holy peace on September 26, 2016 in Odessa, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2016 at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 1, 2016 at St. Andrew Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Reverend Dr. Jimmy Braswell officiating.

As a young boy, he played violin during church services and was an outstanding athlete, playing four sports at Mt. Calm High School from 1933-1936. He attended Texas A&M University from 1936-1937 leaving at the end of his freshman year to sign a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Browns. He was then farmed out to the Oklahoma City Indians during 1938 and the Lubbock Hubbers during 1939, while he worked as a roughneck in the oilfield during the off season. He was determine that he could make more money in the oilfield than minor league baseball, so in 1940, he quit baseball to build his career in the oilfield.

In 1942, he joined the Army and served as a sharp shooter in the Philippines during World War II until the 1945 victory over Japan. He was involved in numerous "invasions" runs to Tokyo, but each time they turned back around and were told that it was just a "training" run.

In 1945, he returned home to the oilfields of West Texas and New Mexico. He was a hard worker and very bright and was able to advance from Driller to Tool Pusher to Drilling Superintendent. He mainly worked for McQueen & Clevenger Drilling Company and Cactus Drilling from 1945-1953. That same year, he started in Hillin Drilling Company with financial backing from the operators he worked for and by the late 1960's he had built his company from one rig to eight. He enjoyed success through the middle 1980s. In the 1970s he earned the nickname of "Blaze" for his penchant for wearing blazers even in the field. The 1986 drilling bust ended his contract drilling days, but he went on to become a successful operator and oil producer. Under Reeves County Systems, Inc. he was still operating three old stripper leases during the year of his death
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During the 1970s until the mid-1990s, he became involved in thoroughbred horses, establishing RNH Racing Stables. He owned a number of small stakes race winners, the most notable of which was "Hula Blaze", who won the San Pascal Stakes at Santa Anita in 1985.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents Margaret Ashley and G.E. Hillin; siblings Ashley Hillin, Don Hillin, and Laurell Hillin Wilson and grandson Joshua William Grantham Harrell.

Robert is survived by his wife Helga Lopez Hillin; five children Robert K. Hillin and wife PJ, Don Ashley Hillin and wife Susan, Franette (Kelly) Hillin, Mark Lopez and Roque Lopez, 18 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren.

His beautiful smile, dancing blue eyes, quick wit, gentle heart, and dancing feet will be greatly missed.

Our family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Madison Medical Resort and Odessa Hospice for all their love and care.

Arrangements are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home. To send family condolences please sign the guest registry at www.sunsetodessa.com.

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