hˈɪlɪɚd stˈʌdid dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪzəm æt vˈænpoːɹt kˈɑːlɪdʒ nˈaʊ pˈoːɹtlənd stˈeɪt jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ænd ðˈɛn ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ˈɔːɹɪɡən, bᵻfˌoːɹ tɹænsfˈɜːɹɪŋ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti tə pɐsˈɪfɪk jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, ɪn fˈɔːɹɪst ɡɹˈoʊv, fɹʌm wˈɪtʃ hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti tˈuː wɪð ɐ dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪzəm.
Hilliard studied journalism at Vanport College (now Portland State University) and then the University of Oregon, before transferring in 1950 to Pacific University, in Forest Grove, from which he graduated in 1952 with a degree in journalism.