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Feature on Governor Jim Hunt: 2002 Ruffin: Ben Ruffin, Former Chairman, UNC Board of Governors Anchor: Each year the University of North Carolina Board of Governors honors special North Carolinians who have made significant contributions to higher education in the state. This year’s award honors two North Carolina men. One is Former Governor Jim Hunt, who after making education the focus on his unprecedented 16 years as governor is still working hard on education issues today. Ruffin: If there were ever one person who has a love, a taste, a feel for education, it’s Jim Hunt. I don’t care what you start of talking about with Jim Hunt, he’s going to end up talking about education. Anchor: Education has been a priority for Jim Hunt throughout his life. The son of a public school teacher living in eastern North Carolina, Hunt learned early about the value of a good education. McCulloch: I love to hear him tell the stories of when he was growing up on the farm. And he would see these kids come in sometime in their overalls, barefoot, not necessarily having the very best of what life has to offer. And his mother would spend hours in the front parlor helping them read, things they were struggling with. McCulloch: He said it kind of struck him then that a life well lived is not just what you do for yourself, but what you do for other people. And so he’s always had a real reverence and honors teaching. Anchor: In school, Hunt studied hard. At North Carolina State University, he excelled in academics and in many leadership positions. Even at that young age, friends say it was clear Hunt would be a state leader. Gilmore. He was a person that when he spoke people listened. I remember talking with him about what a tremendous price NC was paying to have so many kids drop out of school. To not have skilled jobs waiting for them. Those were tough times in the ‘50s. Anchor: After graduating from NC State, Hunt went on to get his masters degree and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Later, he put his education to use for the state… first as Leiutenant Governor and then for an uprecedented 16 years as governor. Hunt’s first gubernatorial term ran from 1977 to 1985. Then in the early 1990s, he decided it was time to serve the state once again. Turlington: One of the reasons he ran again in 1992 after being out of office was because he thought the state wasn’t moving as fast in education as it should. Anchor: Hunt was re-elected on an education agenda that included a new emphasis on early childhood education. Under Hunt’s guidance, a new program was started to focus on preparing kids to make a healthy start in school. He called it Smart Start. Britt: There had been many, many people laboring in the vineyards for many years around the issue of early childhood education. But what the Governor did was to become a catalyst for that and then to take and create a vision for converting this understanding that was deeply supported by research but had never been translated into a single unified effort. Anchor: In addition to Smart Start, Hunt also pushed for higher standards for teachers and students in all North Carolina schools. Efforts that got him recognized nationally. Clinton: For years, many of our educators led by NC Gov. Jim Hunt and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards have worked very hard to establish nationally accepted credentials for excellence in teaching. Broad: He is recognized, not just nationally, but internationally, as an education governor... but as an education governor that can demonstrate results. It is a whole lot more than rhetoric with Governor Hunt. All together he is a very admirable man who commits himself with passion and energy and hard work. When you work with Governor Hunt on any topic, he works as hard as anyone else on the team. Anchor: President Broad says Hunt has also been a strong supporter of higher education. At NC State, he helped develop the Centennial Campus and created the institute for emerging issues to foster cutting edge research. And university leaders say he has also provided valuable leadership on issues impacting all 16 UNC campuses. Wilson: If there has ever been an example about what the University of North Carolina is all about and certainly a public university, it is Jim Hunt. If you look at his life, coming from a farm in Rock Ridge, coming to Raleigh, getting an undergraduate and graduate degree from NC State. Then getting a professional degree in law from the University of North Carolina. And then taking the tools that the university gave him and then using them to improve life for all North Carolinians. I don’t think there’s a better testimony of what a public university can be than to look at the life of Jim Hunt. Hunt: What I might call my total commitment to education and making it my absolutely top priority is because I know that’s the key to our future. I used to have a chart in the Governor’s office that said economic education is economic development. If we want to have more good jobs for our people, if we want our children and our families to have a chance for a good future, they’ve got to have a good education. They’ve got to be able to think. Anchor: Even today, Hunt is working on education issues as the chairman of four national education organizations. Hunt: A lot of people see me these days and say, how are you enjoying retirement? And I say what retirement? The truth is I’m probably busier than ever. Anchor: And one of the places you’ll often find Hunt these days is at the Hunt Institute for Education Leadership and Policy. Hunt: I am so honored that the University of North Carolina established this institute. We want to work on helping America’s leaders understand the set of policies you have to put in place to really dramatically improve schools. And then get good ideas on how to accomplish those things politically. Anchor: But friends say it’s only fitting that Hunt have an educational institute bearing his name. After all he’s done to make education better here in North Carolina and throughout the nation. McCulloch: Walking into a major education event with three, four, five thousand teachers there. And of course the governor going up to the front, going to the podium getting ready to speak. And in the back this group of teachers hold up a sign and it says, Jim Hunt rocks. You begin to get a sense again of the passion and how people are somehow about to sense that in him, not just the words, not just the speeches, not just the sitting at the head of the table., but they get that deep profound passion that he has for education. Turlington: Jim Hunt exemplifies the highest ideals of the University of North Carolina. Among those would be excellence, a commitment to helping others and the recognition that if you work hard enough and have access to education you can not only improve your life but you can improve the lives of everyone living in the state. Wilson: One piece of advice that he gave me a long time ago when I first had the opportunity to work closely in his administration in 80-84 was to never quit, always keep working, don’t get distracted on what’s important. And remember that you are privileged to be a North Carolinian. You have benefited from the resources of this state and it is your responsibility to return some of that. And I clearly from where I am today in my personal life, but for my involvement and inspiration that I’ve received from Jim Hunt, I would not have the opportunities that to serve that I’m currently enjoying. So I thank him personally for those opportunities. Gilmore: Jim Hunt is smart. Jim Hunt is a leader that hasn’t forgotten his roots, hasn’t forgotten the training his mother and father gave him and his teachers in his schools, the public schools, at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina. I certainly hope we hear a lot more from Jim Hunt in the future. |
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