The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) today mourned the passing of Argentina S. Hills, a pioneer in the Latin American journalism industry and the first woman to serve as president of this organization.
Argentina Hills.
The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) today mourned the passing of Argentina S. Hills, a pioneer in the Latin American journalism industry and the first woman to serve as president of this organization.
Hills died at the age of 103 in Miami, where she had lived for several years. She co-founded and directed the Angel Ramos Foundation in Puerto Rico for nearly 50 years, promoting social development through the arts, journalism, and culture.
Of Italian origin, upon the death of her husband, Angel Ramos, she became president of the El Mundo newspaper business group in Puerto Rico. In 1968, she was honored with the María Moors Cabot Prize.
In 1963, she married Lee Hills (1906-2000), who, in addition to being a renowned journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, was the chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of the major American media chain Knight Ridder.
As a result of her second marriage to Lee Hills, this was the only case in the history of the IAPA in which both spouses have been presidents of the institution. Hills presided over the IAPA from 1967 to 1968 and his wife Argentina from 1977 to 1978.
Having received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her life, in 2019 Argentina Hills was the subject of a special tribute during the 75th General Assembly held in Coral Gables, Florida.
Having received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her life, in 2019 Argentina Hills was the subject of a special tribute during the 75th General Assembly held in Coral Gables, Florida.
Under her leadership, the Ángel Ramos Foundation became one of the most important philanthropic institutions in Puerto Rico and one of the most deeply rooted in the Third Sector. Over the years, the Foundation has donated more than $130 million to benefit the people of Puerto Rico. The Foundation has impacted more than 1,000 institutions and has helped transform the lives of thousands of Puerto Ricans.