Uncrowned Community Builders

Rev. John T. Hilliard was born, in 1926, and raised in Buffalo, New York. He is the son of Ertie T and John T. Hilliard. He was one of seven siblings, three brothers and three sisters. Rev. Hilliard attended and graduated from Buffalo Public Schools 32 and Emerson Vocational High School. He received a degree in Bible from Buffalo Bible Institute and a Bachelor of Science from Houghton College, in Houghton, New York. Rev. Hilliard earned a M.S. Degree in School Administration from State University College at Buffalo. In addition, he received a Doctor of Divinity from Baptist Bible College of Western New York.

Rev. Hilliard is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served from 1943 to 1946. He received an honorable discharge. He was employed at Bethlehem Steel from 1950 to 1964. In 1965, he was employed by the Buffalo Board of Education and taught for 20 years before retiring in 1984.

Rev. Hilliard pastored the Grace Baptist Church in Buffalo from 1962 to 1969. He became pastor of the Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church, formerly the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church in 1972 and continues to serve that congregation after 35 years in the pastorate.

Rev. Hilliardââ?¬â?¢s community service has extended to his involvement in a number of community agencies including the Buffalo Urban League, Educational Opportunity Center Board of Directors, the Great Lakes District Association, Empire Baptist Missionary State Convention, National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., Baptist Ministers Conference of Buffalo and Vicinity. He is a Gold Life member of the NAACP.

Rev. Hilliard and the former Louisiana Thomas were married on March 20, 1948. They are blessed to be the parents of two sons and four daughters.