2008 Ageless Hero

William "Rocky" Hill
Age: 82

Vigor and Vitality:
Able to perform agile feats, both mental and physical

William "Rocky" Hill has a passion for ships dating back to World War II, when he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. He served in the Pacific, operating the engines of a Landing Ship Tank (LST), an amphibious ship that supported invasion operations by carrying considerable quantities of vehicles, cargo and troops.

Fifty-eight years later, a group of former LST sailors, including Rocky, found an LST in the Greek Navy. They flew to Greece to acquire and restore the ship, sailed it back to the United States, and converted it into a sailing museum. Rocky continues to work in the engine rooms, just as he did during the war. He has assisted on five of the ship's additional voyages and shared the historic ship with more than 150,000 guests.