Bill Hillman

William D. "Bill" Hillman (December 10, 1922 – August 3, 1999) was an American broadcaster, union leader, cryptanalyst, and television news anchor. Over a career spanning five decades, Hillman made notable contributions to the entertainment and broadcasting industries, serving as the national president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) from 1979 to 1984 and as a news broadcaster for KPIX-TV in San Francisco from 1953 to 1992. His work was distinguished by his leadership in union advocacy, scientific and cultural reporting, and his service as a cryptanalyst during World War II.

Early Life and Military Service Bill Hillman was born in Rexburg, Idaho on December 10, 1922. He began his broadcasting career at KIDO in Boise, Idaho, in 1942. His role involved intercepting and decoding enemy communications, contributing to the Allied intelligence efforts during the war.

AFTRA Leadership and Union Advocacy Hillman became a member of AFTRA in 1948 and quickly rose through the ranks of the organization. He held every elected position in the union’s San Francisco local, including four terms as president, before serving on the national board for more than 30 years.

In July 1980, shortly after Hillman assumed the presidency, AFTRA and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) jointly entered a major TV/Theatrical strike that would last until September 25 of the same year. The strike centered on issues including wage increases, profit participation for performers in Pay-TV, videocassettes, and videodiscs, and pension and health benefits. Although a tentative agreement was eventually reached and ratified on October 23, 1980, the strike was viewed as largely disappointing for performers. The outcome reignited enthusiasm for merging the two unions and led to the creation of a formal merger plan in 1981. The company brought antitrust charges against AFTRA for allegedly attempting to prevent it from hiring non-union performers. In 1981, a jury found AFTRA liable, awarding $12 million in damages (tripled to $36 million under antitrust law), which forced AFTRA to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982.

During Hillman’s tenure as AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund trustee, he played a key role in implementing some of the most progressive benefits in the entertainment industry. This included health coverage for same-sex domestic partners, the elimination of annual limits for mental health medications, and coverage for birth control pills. Hillman described these changes as a “series of the most important improvements ever made in the retirement plan,” ensuring long-term security for participants.

Under Hillman’s leadership, the AFTRA Health and Retirement Funds reached significant milestones, with assets surpassing $1.5 billion for the retirement fund and $150 million for the health fund by the late 1990s. His dedication to improving benefits was seen as a key part of ensuring AFTRA participants’ long-term security.