(for more information, contact D.J. Wilson at 314.421.4220, ext. 261 or 314.550.6334)
Edward Hillhouse, who served as executive director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments since 2010, announced his resignation Friday from the St. Louis region’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization. Hillhouse’s resignation takes effect June 30.
Hillhouse will continue to teach at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, and serve as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Administration.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the public for the last 45 years and now I am returning to education, which is the key improving so many aspects of the quality of life in our region,” Hillhouse said. “The years at East-West Gateway have been some of the most rewarding years of my career and I leave here liking it as much, if not more, then when I began.”
Prior to becoming executive director of East-West Gateway, Hillhouse had been superintendent of schools for the Meramec Valley School District from 1988 to 2002. Hillhouse was presiding commissioner of Franklin County from 2002 to 2010, and during that time also served on the East-West Gateway Board of Directors.
During his time on the board and as East-West Gateway’s executive director, the region’s planning organization facilitated the construction of the Stan Musial – Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River, negotiated a compromise that will lead to an added westbound lane to the Poplar Street Bridge, planned the construction of the Route 3 connector in Metro East, and participated in the planning for the lid over the depressed lanes by Gateway Arch.
“There are several tasks before us that I plan to work through with the board, the staff and region before I leave,” Hillhouse said.
As Hillhouse leaves, East-West Gateway is in the process of finishing its long range transportation plan, updating demographic data for the ongoing Where We Stand series, and creating a regional freight district that is designed to capitalize on the St. Louis region’s capacity to move freight by rail, truck, barge and plane.
East-West Gateway is the region’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization responsible for approving federal funding for major transportation projects. East-West Gateway’s 24-person board, which the top elected officials the region’s seven counties and the mayor of the city of St. Louis, meets monthly to consider issues of regional significance.
Hillhouse has a doctorate degree in education from St. Louis University, a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Missouri State University. He is married to Shirley Hillhouse, a retired teacher from the Labadie Elementary School in the Washington School District. The Hillhouses have two adult sons, Heath, and Hart.