American Notes Farmers

Burdened by some $300,000 in debt brought on by rising costs and falling crop prices, L.D. Hill saw no other way out. His 705-acre Georgia farm had been foreclosed, and was to be auctioned off. Minutes before the sale was to begin one morning last winter, Hill shot himself to death, evidently hoping that his life insurance would enable his wife Annabel to save the property. But his life insurance money did not go nearly far enough to save the property, and the auction sale was rescheduled for last week. Help came from an unexpected source: New York Real Estate Magnate Donald Trump.

Trump heard about Mrs. Hill's plight on a network newscast. With Georgia Businessman Frank Argenbright Jr., he guaranteed purchase of the Hill farm. So far, Trump and friends have raised about $77,000 toward buying 326 acres and the Hill home. He hopes to raise $100,000 more to save the rest of the farm. Before the New York builder called to offer Hill's widow his help, she had never heard of him. Nevertheless, she said, "My heart went pitter-patter." Said Trump: "I wanted to help one lady with one farm. The bigger problem is that thousands and thousands of people are going through the same thing."