Jim Hunt Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Jim Hunt


69th & 71st Governor of North Carolina
In office January 9, 1993 – January 6, 2001
Lieutenant	Dennis Wicker
Preceded by	James G. Martin
Succeeded by	Mike Easley
In office January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985
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
Governor	James Holshouser
Preceded by	Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr.
Succeeded by	James C. Green

Personal details
Born	James Baxter Hunt Jr. (1937-05-16) May 16, 1937 (age 88) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Carolyn Leonard (m. 1958)
Children	4, including Rachel and Baxter
Education	North Carolina State University (BS, MS) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (JD)

James Baxter Hunt Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician and a retired lawyer. He served as the Governor of North Carolina for four terms, from 1977 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 2001. He holds the record as the longest-serving governor in North Carolina's history.

Jim Hunt is known for his leadership. Many people believe he helped the Democratic Party in North Carolina stay strong in state politics for a long time. His daughter, Rachel Hunt, is currently the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

Early Life and Education
Becoming a Leader in Politics
What Governor Hunt Did
Life After Being Governor
Family Life
Places Named After Jim Hunt
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Jim Hunt was born on May 16, 1937, in Greensboro, North Carolina. His father, James Baxter Hunt, worked to protect soil, and his mother, Elsie Brame Hunt, was a schoolteacher. When Jim was a child, his family moved to a farm near Wilson, North Carolina.

He attended North Carolina State University, where he earned degrees in agricultural education and agricultural economics. While in college, he was very active in student government. He was even elected Student Body President twice, which was a rare achievement. Later, in 1964, he earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Becoming a Leader in Politics

Jim Hunt as Lieutenant Governor, around 1973

Before becoming a well-known politician, Jim Hunt worked as an economic advisor in Nepal from 1964 to 1966. He also helped with many political campaigns for Democratic candidates.

In 1972, he successfully ran for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. He started this role on January 5, 1973. At that time, the governor was a Republican, James Holshouser. The state's lawmakers decided to make the Lieutenant Governor's job more important. They increased the salary and gave the office more staff.

Jim Hunt as governor in 1983.

Jim Hunt became Governor of North Carolina on January 8, 1977. He is the only person to be elected governor of North Carolina four times. 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 rules. This change allowed him to be the first North Carolina governor to serve two terms in a row.

In 1984, he ran for a U.S. Senate seat but lost a close race. He then took a break from politics for eight years. He returned in 1992 and won the governorship again. He was re-elected by a large number of votes in 1996. He finished his time in office in January 2001.

What Governor Hunt Did

Jim Hunt campaigning in 1992

Jim Hunt speaking at North Carolina State University in 1992

As governor, Jim Hunt focused a lot on education. He was a strong supporter of teaching standards and programs for young children. One of his most famous programs was Smart Start. This program helps children before they start kindergarten.

He believed that testing students was important to see how well schools were doing. He said that because of the testing and accountability rules he put in place, test scores improved. For example, he noted that 56% of students were doing well in 1994, and this number rose to 70% by the year 2000.

Governor Hunt also worked to bring new technology and businesses to North Carolina. He helped create the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. These efforts helped the state's economy grow.

Life After Being Governor

After leaving office, Jim Hunt continued to work on important issues. He started the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University. This institute helps find solutions for challenges facing North Carolina.

In 2001, he also founded The Hunt Institute. This organization works to improve education across America. It helps leaders and lawmakers create better plans for public education.

Family Life

Jim Hunt married Carolyn Leonard Hunt in 1958. They have four children: a son named James Baxter Hunt III and three daughters. One of their daughters, Rachel Hunt, followed in her father's footsteps and was elected Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 2024.

Places Named After Jim Hunt

Several places and organizations are named in honor of Governor Jim Hunt:

The James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy Foundation, Inc.
The James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University Centennial Campus
James B. Hunt High School in Wilson County, North Carolina
James B. Hunt Jr. Residence Hall at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
The James B. Hunt Horse Complex at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds
The M/V Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. ferry, which operates in the Currituck Sound
Hunt Hall (a dormitory) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte