Harold Guy Hunt

GUY HUNT was born in Cullman County, Alabama, and received honorary doctor of law degrees from Troy State University, the University of North Alabama, and Alabama A&M University in 1987. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for outstanding performance of military duty. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1958. Hunt's political career began in 1962 when he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the state Senate. In 1964 he was elected Probate Judge of Cullman County, a position he held for 12 years. Active in the Republican Party, he held high positions in Ronald Reagan's state campaign organization. Hunt was defeated by Fob James in the 1978 governor's race. In 1986, however, he took advantage of a split in the Democratic Party and won the election. He was reelected in 1990. During his first term Hunt attempted to attract more industry and tourists to the state. His election and subsequent appointments greatly strengthened the Republican Party in Alabama politics. Despite those gains, Hunt's legislative agenda was thwarted by the majority Democrats in the legislature. Hunt was reelected in 1990, beating the Alabama Education Association director, Paul Hubbert, but his second term was spent battling charges that he had violated state ethics laws. He was convicted of illegally using campaign and inaugural funds to pay personal debts and was removed from office on April 22, 1993, though he was later pardoned on grounds of innocence. Lieutenant Governor James E. Folsom, Jr., was sworn in as governor on the same day. Hunt ran again, unsuccessfully, for governor in 1998, then returned to his Holly Pond Farm and preaching assignments.