Date of birth: 3/6/36 – Longview, Texas
Marital Status: Married to Ercie on Valentine’s Day, 1984
Children: Sabrina Hill, Dustin Hill
Parents: Dr. James E. Hill, Sr. and Evelyn (Hill) Watters
Children: Sabrina, Dustin
Height: 5’ ll”
Weight: 170
Education: Graduated Texas A&M University – 1957 – Bachelor of
Science degree in Industrial Technology (second generation Aggie)
Years as professional racer: 43
Racing nicknames: Holeshot Hill, Fast Eddie, The Thrill, currently
FourFather (Father of the Fours)
Drag Racing stats – 1985-1999
Career best elapsed time: 4.520 seconds –10/2/99 –Topeka, Kansas
Career best MPH: 323.74 MPH – 10/2/99 – Topeka, Kansas
Career national event wins: 16 (top fuel dragster)
Career national event final rounds: 36 (top fuel dragster)
Career Highlights
Eddie is still only racer to have been the yearly championship winner
and fastest, quickest drag racer on both land and water; and to
concurrently hold official speed records in both venues
Has won trophies and races in nine decades from 1940’s to 2020
On April 9, 1988, ran the world’s first four-second quarter-mile pass
at 4.990 elapsed time, 288.00 mph
Won the 1993 National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel Championship
at age 57
In Guinness Book of World Records for 11 years as world’s fastest
propeller driven boat – 229.00 mph in quarter mile
In drag boat racing won championships in ADBA 5 times, SDBA 7
times, NDBA 4 times, held Canadian water speed record at 223.32
mph, retired in 1984 with 101 runs over 200 mph
At time of Hill’s retirement in November, 1999, had recorded over
460 four-second asphalt quarter-mile passes