William Hawk

William “Bill” Richard Hawk, 82, of Miles City died Dec. 26, 2024.

He was born April 25, 1942, in Poplar, the son of Mattie Ina and William A. Hawk. He grew up and attended school in Poplar, graduating from high school in 1960. While attending school, he was very active in sports and became a letterman in his freshman year playing baseball. The next three years of high school, he lettered in football and basketball as baseball was not played in high school after 1957. He started his athletic career when he was about eight years old. The catholic priest asked him if he wanted to play on the Little League team as a catcher, which was the only position left open. Thus, he began a very good career as a catcher. He played Little League, Babe Ruth, Junior Legion baseball all as catcher, turning into one of the best in the area. When he was not playing Legion baseball, he was playing for the local town baseball team.

After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving for four years. After basic training and technical school, he spent two years in Japan as a radio operator, using Morse Code. He then returned to the United States and was assigned to Albuquerque, N.M., as a radio operator. While in the Air Force, he continued his sports career by playing fast pitch softball in Japan and in Albuquerque as a catcher.

Following his honorable discharge in October of 1964, he worked various jobs until 1966 when he went to San Francisco, Calif., under the relocation program, where he attended business college, graduating in 1967. While in San Francisco, he met his future wife. After a short courtship, he and Sharon were married in June 1967 in Albuquerque, N.M. In 1985, the family moved to Miles City where he worked various jobs, finally settling at Pine