Mr. Evans V. Hilton, age 85 of Frankfort, KY and Mt. Vernon, KY, died Sunday, June 13, 2004 at the Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington of complications following heart surgery. He was born in at Pine Hill in Rockcastle County on Oct. 9, 1921 the son of John W. and Nellie Dolan Hilton.

Mr. Hilton's illustrious career as a civil engineer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky spanned 41 years and the administrations of 11 governors. He served as assistant area engineer and assistant district engineer for offices in Lexington, London, Manchester, and Morehead; as district engineer in Bowling Green, Manchester, and Somerset; as Kentucky's chief highway design engineer; and as chief project engineer for many large-scale interstate, parkway, toll road, and primary and secondary road projects. His significant achievements included Kentucky Highway 80 from Hazard to Prestonsburg, the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the AA Highway. Following his retirement in 1986, he recommended quality and efficiency improvements for the Transportation Cabinet as a member of the Transportation Task Force.

Although a lifelong resident of Rockcastle County, Mr. Hilton lived in many cities and towns throughout Kentucky. His knowledge of Kentucky people and places was encyclopedic, and he took enormous pride in his contribution to the building of the modern Kentucky highway network. According to one observer, "When E.V. Hilton joined the Highway Department, our highways were primative. When he retired, Kentucky highways were among the finest in the nation."

Mr. Hilton is survived by a sister, Lorene Patton of London, KY; and by eight nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Nellie Dolan Hilton; and by six brothers and sisters.

He was a member of the Pine Hill Baptist Church where expressions of sympathy may be made to the building fund at PO Box 1495, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456.