G&E Hill, Incorporated was formed in 1977, one year after its co-founder, Gloria Hill, came up with the unique idea for a family board game. The idea for the game, which she called
The Game of Roots, was inspired by the moving saga depicted in Alex Haley's phenomenal book
Roots.
Gloria says:
In 1976, when Alex Haley shared the story of his efforts to trace his family's roots, it set millions of people in the United States and all over the world searching their family trees. I was one of them. Moved to trace my family roots, I noticed that children were not as involved as adults were in the push to learn about their family roots. Then, a teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System, I set out to do something about it. As a child, I loved playing the game of Monopoly. Convinced that children learn best when they are doing what they enjoy, and realizing that board games are fun for children, I figured what better way to emphasize family than through a fun, family-focused board game. That's when I came up with the idea for a board game centered around family heritage.
"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage -- to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness."
Alex Haley
What Roots Means to Me
READER'S DIGEST -- May 1977
An opportunity for me to meet the Roots author came when he appeared in Baltimore, on February 28, 1977, as the honored guest at an invitation only reception held at the Maryland Commission on Afro-American History and Culture. That day was proclaimed, Alex Haley Day, by the then Mayor of Baltimore City, William Donald Shaefer. There, Gloria had the honor of sharing with him the rough draft of my game. A gracious, mild-mannered man, Mr. Haley expressed pleasure over the prospect of children, as well as adults, being able to participate through such a board game in the growing fascination with learning about their family roots. He wished luck with The Game of Roots.
An educator with a Master's in Education and many years of teaching gifted and talented students, I am more than happy that I ventured down this path. It was as a young teacher, that I considered the concept of tracing one's family roots too important to let slip by. I still feel the same today. My motivation was, and still is, family. Coming from a poor family, with the good fortune to have overcome many difficulties and finally confront my past, I am stronger today. Through all the ups and downs, family came to mean a lot to me. Born in rural South Carolina, I was brought to Baltimore at the age of one. I spent most of my early years growing up not only in a poor and troubled home but also on the tough city streets of Baltimore, Maryland, where fighting became a way of life. I am a survivor in the strongest sense of the word. After many years of working hard on penning my story as a novel, it is finished. When you read it, I hope you come away with the feeling that the strong in spirit can overcome (see My Story).
After the original Roots games took off in 1977, Gloria and her husband, Eddie Hill, decided that they should form a company. And G&E Hill, Incorporated was formed. Its credo then -- Connecting with Family! Making Family Fun! There are two versions of the original game that allow players to connect with and make family fun. The Game of Roots (updated version of the original) debuted in 2000. And The Game of Roots II (modified version of the original) debuted in 2001. Each offers the same wholesome family-focused theme and universal appeal as the original.
In 2005, after the completion of
Thoroughbred: My House, My Block, her first novel, Gloria, with the full support of her husband, Eddie, embarked on yet another endeavor -- establishing The G&E Hill Foundation. The Foundation, formed in 2006 in the spirit of giving back, has as its primary mission to bring hope and happiness to as many impoverished and repressed children as possible through its annual Bicycle Giveaway, Scholarship Awards and Disaster Relief Aid Programs (for more, click on
The Foundation).
Gloria Hill -- Educator, Author, Humanitarian
Born -- Blair, South Carolina (raised in Baltimore, Maryland)
Oldest of four -- One sister (born blind) and two brothers
Education -- High School Graduate (National Honor Society) / College Graduate (summa cum laude) Masters in Education
Career -- Resource Teacher (Gifted and Talented Program, Baltimore City Public School System)
Married -- Eddie T. Hill (Cardiopulmonary Director, Church Home, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Mother of twin sons -- (1) Former United States Secret Service Agent/Assistant Director of Homeland Security, Human Resources and Training, Currently Vice President of Johns Hopkins Corporate Security, (2) Baltimore City Firefighter
Membership in the National Honor Society in high school, graduating at the top of her class, Gloria was awarded several college scholarships. In college, she continued to excel, consistently made the Dean's List, and graduated summa cum laude. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Morgan State College. She earned a Master's in Education from Coppin State College (both colleges are now Universities). She has spent many years teaching gifted and talented students in the Baltimore City Public School System.
In 1977, she created a family heritage board game, The Game of Roots, inspired by the book, Roots: The Saga of An American Family (Alex Haley, Doubleday, 1976). This began a long and arduous process of finding a way to produce, promote and market / distribute the games. To that end, she and husband, Eddie Hill, decided to form their own company, G&E Hill, Incorporated. Gloria met Alex Haley and received praise from him for her unique creation. In 1978, The Game of Roots became a big hit at the National Toy Fair held in New York City. The subject of numerous newspaper, magazine articles and television shows, The Game of Roots, brought joy to many children and family members while tracing their family roots. She is the author of a book loosely based on her early life experiences -- a novel entitled, Thoroughbred: My House, My Block.
Eddie T. Hill -- Director: Medical Field , Entrepreneur, Investment Club Vice President, Humanitarian
Born -- Anderson, South Carolina (raised in Baltimore, Maryland)
Youngest of four -- Two sisters and one brother
Education -- High School Graduate / College Graduate
Career -- Cardiopulmonary Director, Church Home, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Married -- Gloria Hill (Educator - High School Resource Teacher, Entrepreneur, Investment Club President, Author)
Father of twin sons -- (1) Former United States Secret Service Agent/Assistant Director of Homeland Security, Human Resources and Training, Currently Vice President of Johns Hopkins Corporate Security, (2) Baltimore City Firefighter
In 1962, Eddie began a military stint in the United States Army. Over the next decade, he proudly served his country well as a highly decorated soldier and Medic.
In 2006, the Hills founded a children's charitable organization, the G&E Hill Foundation (www.GandEHill.org). Establishing this nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is the culmination of a long-held dream of Gloria's to provide relief aid to underprivileged children (and their families). The Annual Bicycle Giveaway and follow-up Scholarship Awards Programs for under privileged youth has brought them a great sense of pride and satisfaction for many years.
Providing ongoing relief assistance to Hurricane Katrina survivors since 2006 is another mission of huge significance to the Hills and their organization. Disaster relief aid to impoverished and repressed children (and their families), such as the coordination of sponsorships for the children of Haiti that are left orphaned by the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 12, 2010, has become an integral part of the Foundation's humanitarian work.
Gloria and Eddie Hill have shared the joys and challenges of raising twin sons - one a United States Secret Service Agent and the other a Baltimore City Firefighter. Although they treasure family most, extending a helping hand to less fortunate children and children whose families are in need of relief aid brings them great satisfaction.
