|
| Richard
L. Hunt |
| NO.
17452 • 11
May 1927 - 23 Apr 2004 |
Died
in Edmond, OK
Inurned in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK
|
RICHARD LEE HUNT was born in Walters, OK, the third son of Adam
Love Hunt and Mellie Lyon Hunt. He was predeceased by his brothers
Adam Love Hunt, Jr., and James Birch Hunt.
In 1946, Dick graduated from Oklahoma Military Academy and entered
West Point. An excellent horseman determined to earn his letter
on the Army polo team, he made it onto the team that fall. His was
no mean accomplishment, because a polo team consists of only three
men, and few plebes were able to join the squad. His achievement
permitted Dick to leave the company mess hall tables and bask in
the freedom of the Corps Squad polo table. His pleasure didn’t
last long, however; Army dropped polo as a varsity sport that same
fall and sold all the horses, sending Dick back to the welcoming
arms of the company for his meals!
At graduation, Dick chose the Corps of Engineers and, immediately
after graduating, married Marilyn Rutter, his sweetheart during
all four cadet years, at the Cadet Chapel. As did many of our classmates,
Dick then departed for Korea, where he commanded an engineer combat
platoon and later served as the assistant S 3 for an engineer combat
battalion.
When Dick came back home in 1952, he and Marilyn began married life
at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. They lived in an old house trailer there
while Dick commanded a company. Later in their tour, Marilyn remembers,
the quarters situation improved they moved into a converted World
War II barracks with a coal furnace!
In 1953, Dick was assigned to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma before being
sent to the University of Illinois to earn a master of science degree
in structural dynamics. For the next two years, Dick was assigned
to the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, MS. Later, the
family moved to Germany, where Dick commanded an engineer (heavy)
construction company and then served as plans officer for the 7th
Engineer Brigade at Rhein Main AFB. In 1961, Dick and Marilyn returned
to the States while Dick attended Command and General Staff College.
In 1962, Dick was assigned to the Tactical Department at West Point
as a company tactical officer and then brigade S-1 before attending
the Armed Forces Staff College in 1965. In February 1966, Dick went
to Thailand to command the 809th Engineer Construction Battalion.
A tour in the Pentagon followed, but the joys of working in the
Pentagon were cut short in 1968 when Dick was selected to attend
the Army War College; a year later, however, he was back as chief
of public affairs in the office of the Chief of Engineers. Two years
later, Dick was appointed district engineer in New Orleans. In 1973,
during his tenure, the lower Mississippi was hit by record setting
floods. Dick’s sound leadership was instrumental in the successful
control of the flooding.
In 1974, Dick was appointed lieutenant governor of the Panama Canal
Zone and vice president of the Panama Canal Company. The four year
tour was rewarding but frustrating, occurring as the United States
was turning over the zone to the Republic of Panama. Dick retired
in 1978.
After retiring, Dick and Marilyn returned to Oklahoma City where
Dick worked as a vice president for an architectural and engineering
company. In 1981, Dick left the corporate world to devote his time
and energy to care for elderly relatives. Additionally, he joined
the New Covenant Christian Church in Oklahoma City and soon became
the church treasurer. Dick’s engineering skills were invaluable
as the church underwent a major building program under Dick’s
supervision. His dedicated work with the New Covenant Christian
Church was only exceeded by his generosity he was truly the rock
on which this Oklahoma City church was based.
On 23 Apr 2004, Dick died after a long battle with cancer. He is
survived by his beloved wife Marilyn; his daughter, Sherry Cox,
and her husband Bill; his daughter, Sue Perry, and her husband Bill;
his son Steve '77 and his wife Elizabeth; and seven grandchildren.
Dick’s decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious
Service Medal with two Oak leaf dusters, the Army Commendation Medal
with two oak leaf dusters, and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.
He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the
Society of American Military Engineers. He was a Registered Professional
Engineer in the State of Oklahoma.
LTG (Retired) John W. Morris, Jun '43, director of civil works in
the Office of the Chief of Engineers during the flooding in the
lower Mississippi in 1973 said:
“I knew Dick Hunt quite well and he was a fine engineer and
soldier. He was the district engineer at New Orleans during the
major flood that tested the control system around the lower Mississippi
and New Orleans. LTG Fred Clarke, the chief of Engineers, and I
visited him during the emergency. Dick had this major crisis well
in hand. The projected water levels required him to make the decision
to open the diversion channels upstream for the first time in decades
and it was a good thing he did. All who heard this briefing and
saw his decisiveness were happy he was the man in control. His fine
performance in New Orleans landed him the noteworthy and prized
assignment as lieutenant governor of the Panama Canal Company, where
his performance lived up to all expectations. I can say without
reservation that Dick Hunt was a standout among a great group of
Army officers and as an engineer in particular.”
Dick Hunt’s dedication to his country and the Army throughout
a lifetime of distinguished service was matched only by his devotion
to his family and his church. He lived his life by the West Point
motto: "Duty, Honor, Country." Duty was his watchword.
We won’t see his like again.
- MJH |
USMA 1950