Thomas A. Hill left NC State and began his career in conservation in the Soil Conservation Service (later known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS) in 1979 as a Construction Inspection Assistant on the Crabtree Creek Watershed Project. In September 1981 he switched to Wake County SWCD where he retired in 2009 after 27 years of service. Not wanting to settle in just yet he took a job with the NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation in July 2009, and in July 2012 was promoted to head the Community Conservation program where he is today, making almost 46 years of service in the conservation field.

It’s the last 13 years I want to focus on, however. Tom, as the coordinator of the Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) was responsible for the distribution of funds throughout the state for community projects that reduce erosion and runoff, improving our water quality. Tom tackled this as only he could. Recognizing that the impact would be limited through the traditional distribution process he developed a new ranking that focused on regions. This was especially helpful to Dare County. It allowed Dare to focus on larger more impactful projects.

In addition to his many other duties Tom has taken a mentor role to many conservationists, especially in Dare. He knows the personal history of Dare County SWCD better than anyone, since he basically trained us all. Since 2020 there have been four different conservationists in Dare County, and Tom has made site visits, fielded countless phone calls and emails, and exhibited the patience of Job while training, correcting, answering questions, arguing, and just overall guiding us through this complicated world of soil and water conservation.

Tom has played a key role in the Dare Soil & Water Conservation District and all of the work it does. It is with gratitude that we present the 2025 Salt Marsh Award from the Dare Soil & Water Conservation District to Thomas A. Hill as an appreciation for the many things he has done, is doing, and will do in the future to improve and conserve the natural resources of Dare County and North Carolina.