Meet ... Lou Wills Hildreth
 
Lou has served for twenty years on the Gospel Music Association Board and is one of the founding members of the Southern Gospel Music Guild. See a video bio of Lou.

Lou was born in Memphis, Texas. She was a member of the Texas First Family of Gospel Music, the Wills Family. Lou has been a television host, songwriter, publisher, journalist, an industry leader, and served twenty years on the GMA board. She is a passionate supporter of the SGMA Hall of Fame in Dollywood. In 1998, Lou was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame, and in 2004, she was the recipient of the first "James Blackwood Award."

Lou received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music degree from Louisiana Baptist University, and the Crabb Family recognized her dedication to the youth of gospel music by honoring her with the first "Golden Crabb Award." Lou was the first woman to own a gospel music agent booking agency and was Mark Lowry's first agent. The "Lou Hildreth Award" -- recognizing excellence within the gospel music industry is presented during the Diamond Awards at the National Quartet Convention.

Always smiling, Lou is the redhead seen on many of the Gaither Homecoming videos. She is a veteran of gospel television having Wills Family Inspirational Time in the 60's, one of the original syndicated shows. In the 70's and 80's, she hosted a daily television show in Nashville and was a Dove Award nominee. Her travels with husband, Howard, are chronicled in the Gospel Music News. She is the first to give credit to another, and to give praise to God. Lou Wills Hildreth is a shining example of a lifetime committed to sharing the gospel through the power of a gospel song.

- Judy Spencer Nelon

Taken from It All Started With A Song
Copyright © 2004 by David Liverett
Used by permission.

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