Calvin Hilton

Services for Calvin L. Hilton, age 71, of Perrin Texas will be at Perrin United Methodist Church on April 15, 2015 at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Perrin Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6pm to 8pm at Baum- Carlock funeral home in Mineral Wells, Texas. Calvin was born in Beeville, Texas to Jack and Elizabeth Hilton. Calvin's parents move often between Texas and California with Calvin graduated from Milby High School in Houston, Texas. Calvin Hilton started an apprenticeship with the Houston Chronicle after high school. After Completing the apprenticeship, Calvin took a leave of absence and joined the U.S. Army and started a career as helicopter pilot. Calvin L. Hilton entered the U.S. Army on June 28th, 1966 as a Warrant Officer Candidate. Upon completion of Warrant Officer Candidate School, he began primary flight school at Fort Wolters; Mineral Wells, Texas. While at Fort Wolters, Calvin trained in the OH-23 and the TH-55. While at Fort Wolters Calvin met the love of his life and future wife; Carolyn Morrison. Once complete with primary training, Calvin was reassigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama. At Fort Rucker, Calvin was trained on the UH-1 (Huey). He received his wings and was commissioned a Warrant Officer on June 30th, 1967. Also while station at Fort Rucker, Calvin and Carolyn married and have remained together for 48 years. Calvin was soon assigned to Vietnam, and arrived there on August 1967 and departed on August 1968. While serving with the 1st of 155th Aviation Company (Stage Coach Company), Calvin flew 999 hours in combat. Amongst his accomplishments, Calvin made Aircraft Commander on November 1967 and Company Instructor Pilot on February 1968. While stationed at Ban Me Thuot in the central highlands of Vietnam, Calvin participated in operations to defeat the North Vietnamese offensive operations during the Tet New Year. While serving in combat, Calvin's aircraft routinely took hostile fire. On three separate incidents, Calvin's aircraft took fire resulting in crash landings or precautionary emergency landings. For his time spent in Vietnam, he earned 26 Air Medals and Combat Action Badge. After Vietnam, Calvin served at Fort Wolters as an Instructor Pilot for the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School. His tenure at Fort Wolters lasted from September 1968 until March 1970. Upon completion of Calvin's Active Duty Service Agreement, he and his family moved to Houston, Texas. Calvin returned to the Houston Chronicle, the employer that he took a leave of absence from to join the U.S. Army. While in Houston, he also re-entered service with the Texas Army National Guard located at Ellington Field. Initially, Calvin flew OH-23's, OH-58's and UH-1 while at Ellington. Calvin quickly became a subject matter expert in the Company and was an Instructor Pilot in the OH-58 Jet Ranger and the UH-1 Huey. In 1987, Calvin went through training to qualify for the AH-1 Cobra. He soon attended the AH-1 Instructor Pilot Course at Western ARNG Aviation Training Site (WAATS) at Tucson, Arizona. Calvin served as an AH-1 Instructor Pilot until the flying unit's transition to AH-64 Apaches. In 1990, Calvin attended the AH-64 transition course at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Once designated as an AH-64 Pilot, he was amongst the initial cadre of qualified pilots and was instrumental in 149th Aviation Brigade's transition from Cobras to Apaches. As a Chief Warrant Officer-4 Master Aviator, he logged over 7000 flying hours and mentored countless Guardsmen with his leadership. Calvin's civilian employment was with the Houston Chronicle. He started as an apprentice in the newspaper composing room and eventually managed the composing room. He worked various managerial positions with his final position being over all the printing operations. In all, Calvin work 35 years at the Houston Chronicle and was a major player in garnering the newspaper into the digital age. After retirement from the Houston Chronicle in 1999, he settled on a farm in Perrin, Texas. He has remained there until his passing on April 10th, 2015. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, Son Craig Hilton, Son Michael Hilton and Wife Sharla Hilton, three grandchildren: Austin Hilton, Mason Hilton, and Wyatt Hilton.