March 2, 2009
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Elonzo Hill Dies; Vice Chair of Metra Board
 Elonzo (Lonnie) Hill, 71, a longtime employee of the Chicago Transit Authority who joined the board of the Metra commuter rail system following his retirement, died Feb. 18 after battling colon cancer.
Hill began his 37-year career at CTA as a bus operator in 1961, progressing through the ranks to serve as executive vice president for service delivery from 1991 until he retired in 1997. During that period, he oversaw the reconstruction of CTA’s Green Line rapid transit service and the opening and operation of the Orange Line to Midway Airport.
The suburban members of the Cook County Board appointed him to the Metra board in 2003, and he was unanimously elected vice chair of the board in 2006.
“The experience Lonnie brought to the table was unparalleled in Metra’s history,” said Metro Executive Director Philip Pagano. “He will be missed as the vice chairman of the board and as a friend.”
He was president of Elonzo Hill Inc., a consulting firm specializing in transportation and pension fund investments.
Hill was also active in APTA, serving on several committees and chairing the APTA International Bus Roadeo Committee from 1987 to 1989.
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