On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill submitted by Congressman Pete Aguilar to rename the Del Rosa Post Office to honor the late Dr. Margaret B. Hill.
On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill submitted by Congressman Pete Aguilar to rename the Del Rosa Post Office to honor the late Dr. Margaret B. Hill. Credit: Chris Allen, VOICE

Ellen Perrault

What better way to enter Black History Month than by having one of our local sheroes recognized at the national level?

On March 2, 2022, Congressman Pete Aguilar introduced legislation renaming the Del Rosa Post Office to honor the late Dr. Margaret B. Hill. On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, that effort came to fruition when  the House of Representatives passed the bill, officially  authorizing the renaming of the  post office to honor the legacy of Dr. Hill, beloved educator and community advocate who passed away in December ,2021.

“Dr. Hill left such an incredible impact on our community, and so many of our residents have had their lives changed for the better because of her compassion, dedication and grace,” said Aguilar in a press statement. 

Responding to the federal action members of Dr. Hill’s family statead, “As a family, we are truly honored to see the name of Dr. Margaret B. Hill be carried on. This is a long-awaited moment that will forever memorialize her commitment and steadfast dedication to creating a better community. We are thankful to the people who were instrumental in making sure this idea came to fruition. We hope that when people recognize the name at the post office, that it serves as a reminder for them to be kind to themselves, each other and most importantly pour love into the children. Margaret’s legacy will forever be ingrained in the city. We are thankful.” 

Comments from leaders in the San Bernardino education community and beyond responded to the action by the House, beginning with Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, Vice-President of the San Bernardino County Board of Education. “As a pillar in our community, words cannot express what Dr. Margaret B. Hill meant to our community. As a person that held a wealth of historical knowledge, it is truly befitting to have a post office associated with her prestigious and honorable name,” 

“Dr. Hill truly was all about the children. I saw firsthand how she cared for each and every one of our scholars as if they were her own children. She truly embodied our District’s mission of ‘Making Hope Happen’ as evidenced by the countless stories of Dr. Hill going above and beyond in service to this community,” said Danny Tillman, Board President of the San Bernardino City Unified School District. “I thank Congressman Pete Aguilar for his effort in carrying on her legacy to live on in the community she cared so much for.”

Dr. Hill’s dedication to the children and youth of the community was recognized beyond the halls of academia as noted by  Alton L. Garrett, President of Westside Action Group. “Dr. Margaret Hill was the consummate educator. Her daily work to better the lives of the children of the San Bernardino Community was an act of dedication and love. If it takes a Village to raise a child, then Dr. Hill was the Elder of that Village. It is an outstanding tribute to her and her family, to have the Del Rosa Post Office renamed in her honor,” said

Terrance Stone, CEO of Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy appeared to sum up the sentiments of the broader inland region. “Just like the United States Post Service, when you think of these words “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” we also think of Dr. Margaret B. Hill. She was a pillar in our community and a perfect example of caring, love, community and work ethic and we are proud to have her name on our local post office.” 

Including among others endorsing the post office renaming are the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa – Delta Rho Chapter, Athletes for Life, First Five San Bernardino Commission, Black Cultural Foundation, Kiwanis of Greater San Bernardino, San Bernardino African American Policy Advisory and Time for Change Foundation.

Ellen Perrault is retired and works occasionally as a freelance writer who contributes to publications in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Her primary focus is preparing/reformatting press releases and other public announcements–both municipal and nonprofit–for publication.