Tommy H. Hillman

Tommy Hillman has spent the past 50 years promoting and serving the rice industry. A rice, soybean and wheat farmer from Carlisle, Hillman served as chairman of the board of directors of Riceland Foods, Inc. from 1993 - 2001. He joined the board in 1976 and became vice chairman in 1985. In this capacity, he helped lead the world’s largest rice miller during a period of unparalleled growth. Hillman was born in Stuttgart and has lived his entire life on Arkansas’ Grand Prairie, where he has tirelessly worked on issues affecting agriculture. In addition to his work with Riceland Foods, he also served as president and director of the USA Rice Federation, and from 1979-2003 as president of Winrock Farms, Inc. Groundwater is critical for the continued success of agriculture on the Grand Prairie and Hillman is helping lead the effort to channel water from the White River to farmers throughout the region. As such, he has assumed the position of president of the White River Regional Irrigation Distribution District. Hillman served on the Arkansas Farm Bureau state board of directors 1973 -1985, as a member and director of the Arkansas Rice Council, and as a member of the Rice Producers Group, Rice Research and Promotion Board, Arkansas Farm Bureau Rice Division and Soybean Promotion Board. A graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Hillman has been inducted into the institution’s Hall of Distinction. He has also served his community’s banking industry through the years as a director of First Stuttgart Bank and Trust, Hazen First State Bank, Citizens Bank and Trust of Carlisle and First Bank of Arkansas in Brinkley. He remains an active member of the Lonoke County Farm Bureau, Carlisle Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club.