In Memory

Billy Eugene Hunt - Class Of 1942

 

 

Newspaper clippings and help with bio provided by Wendell Amos-Class of 1954-Billy Hunt's brother-in-law.

Billy Eugene Hunt-Class of 1942-Texas State Legislator
 
Billy Eugene Hunt was born in 1925. His father, Arthur E. Hunt, was a surveyor and surveyed many area of Shelby, Rusk, Panola and Nacogdoches counties at the turn of the century. His mother, Pellie Frances McLeroy Hunt, was a school teacher. At the age of three Billy was struck with infantile paralysis. His mother home schooled him until high school. Even into the 1950s, Billy slept in an iron lung.
 
His one great desire came true when he was enabled to go to school when the old two story school burned down and the new school was built. The new school was one story. Billy excelled in high school. He was vice-president of his senior class and on the school debating team. He was also the sports editor of the local newspaper while he was in high school. He graduated as salutatorian of his class with an average of 96.31.
 
He enrolled at the University of Texas and with the help of his good friend, Joe Bill Nelson, he was able to get around the campus in Austin. He graduated from UT and then received his law degree from UT. He also passed the State bar exam which enabled him to become an attorney. He was offered several attractive jobs by law firms and state corporations at the time of graduation.
 
Billy opened his first law office above the Trammel and Grainger store in Timpson. He later became a partner in the law firm of Fairchild, Hunt & Price in Center located in the old Payne building on the square in Center. Before this though he was elected to serve in the 54th state legislature for the Shelby County area. Billy served from 1955 to 1957. 
 
What is amazing is that Billy was confined to a wheelchair his entire life but this did not deter him from excelling in law and more important life. He organized one of the first youth baseball teams in Timpson and coached the team.   He wrote many a football reports for the Timpson Times by attending and covering the games in addition to being the voice of the Bears for several years.
 
Billy passed away in 1975. At the time of his death he was survived by his sisters, Oneita Hunt Stilley, Juddie Crawford Hunt (THS school cafeteria manager) and Bess McIntyre Hunt. Also nephews & nieces, Sue Stilley Amos, Louise McIntyre, Charles Edward McIntyre and David Wayne Crawford.