Hobart Lone Hill - Inducted 2025

HOBART LONE HILL (Born 1936. Died 2018.)
1956 Rapid City Central graduate who attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Born in Pine Ridge. Hobart started boxing his brothers at a young age when one of their dad’s friends, a former boxer, gave his friend’s children his boxing gloves. Hobart was hooked from the start and started organized boxing in 1948. He seldom lost and won numerous titles. Many considered him and his brother (Edgar Lone Hill) as two of the best earliest amateur boxers in the Upper Midwest. The Lone Hill brothers made many headlines in Black Hills newspapers for their boxing successes. Also in 1952, the successful brothers were recruited to fight each other. They agreed to merely put on a show for fans and not go for a knockout. In the second round, Hobart saw an opening and couldn’t help himself, reportedly landing a powerful blow to Edgar’s head that staggered him. It started a brotherly brawl, and soon after the fight was stopped and called off, with both brothers bleeding and fuming. The fight was quickly forgotten and forgiven. Hobart won South Dakota state titles in 1951 (bantamweight), 1952 (featherweight) 1954 (welterweight) 1956 (welterweight) and 1958 (middleweight). Hobart earned trips to Golden Gloves national tournaments in Chicago by winning regional titles in 1952 (featherweight), 1953 (lightweight), 1955 (welterweight) and 1957 (welterweight). In 1958, Hobart first became a middleweight champion by hiding quarters during his weigh-in at a tourney to help a friend and fellow boxer who hoped to win the class Hobart was supposed to be in. Hobart was known for his speed and finesse, and when he broke his dominant right hand a few weeks before an upcoming tournament, he taught himself to use his left hand and came away with a wicked left hook. Hobart was at his prime in 1958 and was ready to turn pro when doctors found a heart murmur that ended his career. Hobart loved boxing and continued to help young boxers after he retired. In 1967, Hobart was asked to start coaching the Rapid City Boys Club boxing team, which he did. In 1969, Hobart started his own boxing club, the Indian Men’s Club. Hobart influenced and taught athletes across the Black Hills and helped other boxing clubs develop their athletes.  His program caught the attention of world champion boxer Archie Moore who became a friend with Lone Hill, his club and its athletes. Also, Hobart was a state champion horseshoe pitcher. Member of the Rapid City and SD AAU halls of fame.