Howard Hill was a renowned archer who dazzled audiences with his skill and accuracy. He was also a successful hunter, stuntman, actor, and author. He died on February 4, 1975, at the age of 75. But what was the cause of his death? And how did he live his remarkable life?
Early Life and Career
Howard Hill was born on November 13, 1899, in Wilsonville, Alabama. He grew up on a cotton farm, where he learned to use various tools and weapons, including bows and arrows that his father made for him. He started shooting at the age of four and soon developed a passion for archery.
He was also an exceptional athlete in other sports, such as baseball, basketball, football, and golf. He attended Auburn University, where he played on the varsity teams and paid his tuition by giving archery lessons. He graduated in 1923 and moved to Florida with his wife, Elizabeth, whom he married in 1922.
He worked as a machinist and a semi-pro baseball player, but he soon focused on archery as his main career. He competed in various tournaments and events, winning 196 field archery competitions in a row. He also set a world record for the longest flight shot, shooting an arrow 391 yards. He also invented the rules for archery golf, a sport that combines elements of both games.
Hollywood Fame and Adventures
Howard Hill caught the attention of Hollywood producers, who hired him as a stuntman, actor, and technical adviser for several films. He performed all the bow-and-arrow stunts for the classic movie The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), starring Errol Flynn. He also appeared in other films, such as The Singing Buckaroo (1937), The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), and Virginia City (1940).
He also produced and directed his own documentaries and instructional films, showcasing his archery skills and hunting exploits. He traveled around the world, hunting various animals with his bow and arrow, such as elephants, tigers, lions, bears, and crocodiles. He wrote two books about his experiences, Hunting the Hard Way (1953) and Wild Adventure (1959).
Howard Hill Cause of Death
Howard Hill lived a long and adventurous life, but he also suffered from health problems. He had arthritis, diabetes, and heart trouble. He died of heart failure on February 4, 1975, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was buried in Ashville, Alabama, next to his wife, who died in 1971.
He left behind a legacy of archery excellence and entertainment. He was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest archers of all time and an inspiration for many generations of archers.
According to Wikipedia, he was the only person to win 196 archery field tournaments in succession. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, he served as an archery expert on the short film Follow the Arrow (1938), which included a skeet-shooting contest between him and a shotgun expert. According to Dead or Kicking, his cause of death was heart failure.
