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​Hilburn was born to Wiley Hilburn, Sr. (1913–2003), the son of a cotton gin operator, Ewing Hilburn, originally from Haynesville in northern Claiborne Parish. Hilburn, Sr., managed his father's three cotton gins in ​the Ruston region and then branched into dry cleaning. He offered the first cold storage for furs in Ruston. Hilburn's mother, the former Marie Trussell (1912–2007), was an educator who was once the principal of a one-room school in her native Antioch community near Ruston. Wiley Hilburn himself attended the A. E. Phillips Laboratory School on the Louisiana Tech campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20070212/NEWS0804/702120306/Hilburn-He-affirmed-not-spoiled|title=Hilburn: He was affirmed, but not spoiled|date=February 11, 2007|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=January 18, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

​Hilburn was born to Wiley Hilburn, Sr. (1913–2003), the son of a cotton gin operator, Ewing Hilburn, originally from Haynesville in northern Claiborne Parish. Hilburn, Sr., managed his father's three cotton gins in ​the Ruston region and then branched into dry cleaning. He offered the first cold storage for furs in Ruston. Hilburn's mother, the former Marie Trussell (1912–2007), was an educator who was once the principal of a one-room school in her native Antioch community near Ruston. Wiley Hilburn himself attended the A. E. Phillips Laboratory School on the Louisiana Tech campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20070212/NEWS0804/702120306/Hilburn-He-affirmed-not-spoiled|title=Hilburn: He was affirmed, but not spoiled|date=February 11, 2007|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=January 18, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Wiley Hilburn, Sr., was the brother-in-law of Louisiana Lieutenant Governor [[C. E. "Cap" Barham]], an [[attorney]] from Ruston who served during the [[Robert F. Kennon]] administration from 1952 to 1956, the year that Hilburn, Jr., graduated from Ruston High School. Barham was married to the former Carice Helen Hilburn (1907-1965), the sister of Wiley Hilburn, Sr. Hence, Hilburn, Jr., was a first cousin of the Barhams' older son, the late state Senator Charles Clem Barham (1934-2010), a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] from Ruston, who served from 1964 to 1972 and again from 1976 to 1988.

Wiley Hilburn, Sr., was the brother-in-law of Louisiana Lieutenant Governor [[C. E. "Cap" Barham]], an [[attorney]] from Ruston who served during the [[Robert F. Kennon]] administration from 1952 to 1956, the year that Hilburn, Jr., graduated from Ruston High School. Barham was married to the former Carice Helen Hilburn (1907-1965), the sister of Wiley Hilburn, Sr. Hence, Hilburn, Jr., was a first cousin of the Barhams' older son, the late state Senator [[Charles C. Barham]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] from Ruston, who served from 1964 to 1972 and again from 1976 to 1988.

In 1960, Hilburn procured his bachelor's degree in journalism from Louisiana Tech. While he was a student, he also worked for ''The Ruston Daily Leader,''then owned by [[Clarence Faulk]], gained practical [[newspaper]] experience, and became the editor of the paper. He thereafter received his master's degree in journalism from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].<ref name=hilburnhonors/>​

In 1960, Hilburn procured his bachelor's degree in journalism from Louisiana Tech. While he was a student, he also worked for ''The Ruston Daily Leader,''then owned by [[Clarence Faulk]], gained practical [[newspaper]] experience, and became the editor of the paper. He thereafter received his master's degree in journalism from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].<ref name=hilburnhonors/>​

At twenty-four, Hilburn became in 1962 an editorial writer for ''The Shreveport Times,'' apparently the second youngest writer of editorials for a major newspaper in the nation. That same year, [[Patrick J. Buchanan]], also born in 1938 and eight months Hilburn's junior, began writing editorials for the since defunct ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat.'' Buchanan was still twenty-three when he assumed his position in [[St. Louis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buchanan.org/blog/biography|title=Biography: Patrick J. Buchanan|publisher=buchanan.org|accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> ​

At twenty-four, Hilburn became in 1962 an editorial writer for ''The Shreveport Times,'' apparently the second youngest writer of editorials for a major newspaper in the nation. That same year, [[Patrick J. Buchanan]], also born in 1938 and eight months Hilburn's junior, began writing editorials for the since defunct ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat.'' Buchanan was still twenty-three when he assumed his position in [[St. Louis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buchanan.org/blog/biography|title=Biography: Patrick J. Buchanan|publisher=buchanan.org|accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> ​

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Prior to his joining ''The Shreveport Times,'' the largest newspaper in North Louisiana, Hilburn was the telegraph editor of the former ''Monroe Morning World'' (since merged into ''[[Monroe News Star|The News Star]]'' of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref name=hilburnhonors/>​

Prior to his joining ''The Shreveport Times,'' the largest newspaper in North Louisiana, Hilburn was the telegraph editor of the former ''Monroe Morning World'' (since merged into ''The News Star'' of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref name=hilburnhonors/>​

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==''The Tech Talk''==

==''The Tech Talk''==

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