Hoeven Honors Life & Service of Clint Hill, Helps Dedicate Memorial in Washburn

WASHBURN, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today delivered remarks honoring North Dakota native and U.S. Secret Service Agent Clint Hill at a memorial dedication ceremony in Washburn. The Washburn community and the local American Legion post raised $150,000 to build the granite memorial, which commemorates Hill’s life and service to the nation, including the courage he displayed the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Hill was assigned to follow the President and First Lady’s car in Dallas and threw himself into harm’s way while striving to protect them during the shooting. His quick actions have been credited with saving Mrs. Kennedy’s life. Hill joined the Secret Service following his time with the U.S. Army, serving with the agency for 17 years under five different presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Gerald Ford. Following his retirement, he published four books outlining his experience as a Secret Service agency, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Hoeven helped induct Hill into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame in 2012, and he was awarded North Dakota’s highest civilian honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Roughrider Award, in 2018. He passed away in 2025 at the age of 93. Today’s ceremony was attended by his family, including his wife and co-author Lisa McCubbin Hill. “Clint Hill reflected the very best of our state. No matter where life took him, he always considered North Dakota his home, and we are proud to call him one of our own,” said Hoeven. “Today, we reflect on his service and contributions to our nation, from his time in the Army to his long career with the Secret Service. His bravery and selflessness were a point of light in the middle of a terrible national tragedy. We are grateful for the example he set and the values he demonstrated throughout his life. It is a tremendous opportunity to join with his wife, Lisa, their family and the entire Washburn community in honoring him, and we thank all those who helped make this memorial a reality.” -###-