Horace Augustus Hildreth (December 2, 1902 – June 2, 1988) was born in Gardiner, Maine, the son of an attorney.

In Boston he joined the prestigious law firm of Ropes, Gray, Best, Coolidge and Rugg before returning to Maine with the desire for a political career.

In 1949 he founded Community Broadcasting Service, a company which in 1953 would establish Maine's first television station, WABI-TV.

Community Broadcasting Service later became known as Diversified Communications, a company which is still in existence today and still controlled by the Hildreth family.

From the time of his loss of the senatorial nomination until his appointment as Ambassador to Pakistan, Hildreth served as President of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.