Jim Hunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Hunt
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Official portrait, c. 1993–2001
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| 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office January 9, 1993 – January 6, 2001 |
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| Lieutenant | Dennis Wicker |
| Preceded by | James G. Martin |
| Succeeded by | Mike Easley |
| In office January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985 |
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| Lieutenant | James C. Green |
| Preceded by | James Holshouser |
| Succeeded by | James G. Martin |
| 27th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office January 5, 1973 – January 8, 1977 |
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| Governor | James Holshouser |
| Preceded by | Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr. |
| Succeeded by | James C. Green |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Baxter Hunt Jr.
May 16, 1937 Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | December 18, 2025 (aged 88) Lucama, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Carolyn Leonard
(m. 1958) |
| Children | 4, including Rachel and Baxter |
| Education |
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James Baxter Hunt Jr. (May 16, 1937 – December 18, 2025) was an important American politician and lawyer. He served as the 69th and 71st governor of North Carolina. He holds the record for being the longest-serving governor in the state's history. His daughter, Rachel Hunt, is also a politician and is currently the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.
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Early Life and Education
Jim Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on May 16, 1937. His father, James Baxter Hunt, was a soil conservationist, and his mother, Elsie Brame Hunt, was a schoolteacher. When he was a child, his family moved to a farm near Wilson, North Carolina. He attended North Carolina State College, which is now called North Carolina State University. He earned degrees in agricultural education and agricultural economics. While in college, he was very active in student government and served two terms as Student Body President. Later, in 1964, he earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Political Career Highlights
From 1964 to 1966, Jim Hunt worked as an economic advisor in Nepal. He helped with several political campaigns before successfully running for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1972. He took office on January 5, 1973. Jim Hunt became the Governor of North Carolina on January 8, 1977. He was the only governor in North Carolina to be elected to four terms. He won his first election in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980. During his first time as governor, he supported a change to the state's constitution. This change allowed him to be the first North Carolina governor to serve two terms in a row. In 1981, he led a group called the Hunt Commission. This group helped create rules for how political parties choose their presidential candidates.
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In 1984, he ran for a U.S. Senate seat but did not win. He then took a break from politics for eight years. He returned in 1992 and won the governorship again. He was re-elected in 1996. He finished his time in office in January 2001.
Key Actions and Views
Governor Hunt was a strong supporter of education. In the 1970s, he supported the Equal Rights Amendment, which aimed to ensure equal rights for women. He was a pioneer in setting teaching standards and promoting early childhood education. He gained national recognition for his Smart Start program, which helps children before they start kindergarten. In his book, First in America: An Education Governor Challenges North Carolina, Hunt shared how test scores improved under his education programs. He noted that student proficiency increased from 56% in 1994 to 70% in 2000.
Hunt also worked to advance technology and economic growth in North Carolina. He helped establish important centers like the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. He also supported the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. During his time as governor, Jim Hunt made history by appointing the first African American to the North Carolina Supreme Court, Henry Frye. He also appointed the first Black Cabinet member, Howard Lee.
Retirement and Continued Work
After leaving office, Jim Hunt continued to work on important issues. He founded and was the chair emeritus of the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University in Raleigh. In 2001, he also started The Hunt Institute. This organization helps leaders and policymakers develop plans to improve public education.
Personal Life and Passing
Jim Hunt married Carolyn Leonard in 1958. They had four children: a son, James Baxter Hunt III, and three daughters, including Rachel Hunt. Rachel Hunt served as a North Carolina state senator and is currently the Lieutenant Governor of the state. Jim Hunt passed away at his home in Lucama, North Carolina, on December 18, 2025, at the age of 88. Flags across North Carolina were flown at half-staff to honor him. A book of condolence was displayed at the North Carolina State Capitol for people to sign. His funeral was held on December 26, 2025, in Wilson, North Carolina, and he was later buried.
Legacy
| James B. Hunt Jr. Library | |
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Many places and programs are named after Governor Hunt to honor his contributions:
- James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy
- James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University Centennial Campus
- James Hunt High School in Wilson County, North Carolina
- Governor James B. Hunt Jr. Highway, a part of U.S. Route 264 linking Zebulon, North Carolina to Wilson, North Carolina.
- James B. Hunt Jr. Residence Hall at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
- James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds
- The M/V Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., a ferry in the North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division
- Hunt Hall (dormitory) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
An authorized biography about Jim Hunt was published in 2010.
See also
- List of North Carolina Governors
