Armand L. Hillier

Armand L. Hillier, beloved husband, father, teacher, coach, administrator, friend, and great outdoorsman passed away peacefully on October 7, 2024.  He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Sidney L. Hillier and Dolly E. Hillier and his sister and brother-in-law, Bertha and Don Anders.  Armand is survived by his wife, Barbara Hillier, and his brother, Melvin Hillier. He is also survived by son and daughter-in-law Curtis Hillier and Ashley Vining of Round Rock, Texas and daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Shawn Found of Little Rock, Arkansas. Armand leaves behind 4 grandchildren, Elias Found, Asher Found, Nicholas Hillier and Emma Hillier.

Armand was born February 16, 1940 in Winfield, Kansas to Dolly (Finney) and Sidney Hillier. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwestern College at Winfield where he met his loving wife, Barbara Schellhamer. He was a four-year letterman in basketball, playing three years as a starter at the guard position. He was elected an all-KCAC player and was a leader on the 1962 KCAC championship team. He received his Master's degree from Wichita State University. Armand and Barbara were married in Bucklin, Kansas on November 23, 1962. He taught and coached basketball for 6 years at Oxford High School.

In 1968 he was hired as Basketball Coach of Augusta, Kansas bringing two teams to deep runs into the State Championship Playoffs. He remained on the Augusta faculty for 34 years. He resigned from coaching in 1978 to become Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. The last 10 years of his career, Armand served as the district Athletic Director for grades 7-12. In 1985, he was recognized as the Kansas Athletic Director of the Year. Over the years, he coordinated numerous athletic events including the State Wrestling Tournament at the Kansas Coliseum, regional cross country meets in Augusta and the annual Augusta Wrestling invitational meet.

In 2002, Armand retired after 40 years of service in public education. During this time, Augusta hosted 79 post season events. He received the Award of Merit from KIAAA in 2002 as well. Today, the Augusta high school stadium is named after Armand (Hillier Stadium) along with Poage Field, honoring his good friend Richard Poage's contributions to Augusta High School athletics.

Armand enthusiastically embraced life. He was a gifted athlete, coach, fisherman and hunter.  He enjoyed being outdoors and experiencing all sorts of pursuits from hunting deer, elk, turkey, quail, pheasant, duck, prairie chicken, and dove. He fished farm ponds, watersheds, Great Lakes, and an ocean - like Virgil Ward said, "wherever fish are biting, that's where we gonna go".  He took many a friend and family member to places throughout the flint hills and showed us things we wouldn't normally see.  Armand was a devoted husband and father, and always found ways to spend time with his immediate and extended family. He took us fishing, camping, hunting and attended countless basketball games, cross country meets, track meets, etc.

He was quick to strike up a conversation and always took interest in people's lives and their success. As a coach, assistant principal, and athletic director, he strove for excellence in his own work and expected students, athletes, and coaches to be their best. He was a tough but fair disciplinarian earning the respect of many former students.

Armand will be missed in his community and by his family.  His kind words, interest in others, faith, and touch of orneriness are impossible to replace.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at Headley Funeral Chapel. His funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024 at Augusta United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at 4:30 p.m. at Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Kansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes, or the Augusta United Methodist Church Scholarship for graduating seniors.