PORT HURON, Mich. — The love of the game and his support for area sports' programs has earned Pat Hills, president/CEO of Flagship Federal Credit Union, a spot in the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame.

Hills was scheduled to be inducted on Oct. 28 along with five others.

Hills' ties to developing and supporting area sports' programs extend to being on the board of the Port Huron International Silver Stick Hockey Tournament for the past 18 years. Hills has also served as director of the Port Huron Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament for four years, coached Little League and Babe Ruth baseball for four years each and was a member of the Port Huron Township Little League Board for four years.

Under his 25-year helm, Flagship FCU has sponsored more than 100 hockey, softball, bowling, volleyball and Little League teams.

Ironically, Hills never really considered himself much of an athlete, he told the Port Huron Times-Herald. In high school, he ran cross-country and track, but didn't make the cut for the varsity basketball. He became heavily involved in hockey when his son, Jason, started playing. Hills and his wife LeeAnn also have two daughters: Michelle and Melissa.

A few years ago, Hills was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which spread to his chest and brain. Since then, he has had a kidney removed and underwent brain surgery. He said his cancer reached stage 4 (with 5 being the worst), but now is down to “one-half of 1%.”

On his being inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame, Hills said, “It's probably the proudest thing that's ever happened to me in my life, other than my kids and my wife. It's not something I ever anticipated. It's quite surprising, actually.”