About Governor and Mrs. James B. Hunt

Courtesy Photo Governor and Mrs. James B. Hunt

Governor Jim Hunt completed his historic fourth term as North Carolina's Governor in 2001, with a dedication to improving the lives and education of North Carolina’s children. He directed his administration with the same values his parents taught him -- hard work, honesty and personal responsibility, and his initiatives reflect that philosophy. His efforts brought North Carolina national attention with Smart Start, which involves communities to bring child care and health care to thousands of children; SOS, the after-school crime prevention effort linking volunteers with troubled youths; Work First, which has already moved 61,000 families from welfare to work; and the Governor’s Crackdown for Children, one of the nation’s toughest crackdowns on deadbeat parents to collect back child support. In addition, Governor Hunt’s focus on making schools safer and putting prisoners to work produced results: fewer guns are being brought into NC school and more prisoners are working than ever before.

Governor Hunt earned a B.S. in agricultural education and an M.S. in agricultural economics at N.C. State University, and received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1964. He and his wife Carolyn -- who grew up on an Iowa farm -- have been married for 40 years and are both trained as teachers. Mrs. Hunt has a B.A. degree in elementary education from UNC-Chapel Hill. She established the N.C. Friendship Force Program (now known as the NCCIU, the North Carolina Center for International Understanding), which organizes international exchange programs with communities around the world. Mrs. Hunt is also honorary chair of the N.C. Partnership for Children, which oversees Smart Start, and devotes much of her time to improving the program. By virtue of being North Carolina's first lady, Mrs. Hunt is a member of the National Governors Association (NGA) Spouses group. She has also participated in the book Our Governor's Mansions, a book compiling brief articles on each state's executive residence. Mrs. Hunt has also participated in a number of initiatives taken on by the NGA Spouses, including First Ladies Build, a Habitat for Humanity home-building project.

Governor and Mrs. Hunt have spent much of their lives working to improve education, volunteering in North Carolina’s schools and encouraging citizen involvement in education. Throughout the Hunt administration, the Hunts volunteered every week in Wake County public schools, serving as mentors to elementary and middle school students. They have passed along their belief in public service to their four children. Today, the Hunt's children include a registered nurse, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, an attorney, and a social worker. Governor and Mrs. Hunt enjoy spending their free time on the family farm in Wilson County, N.C., with their children and grandchildren.

Special thanks to the staffs of Governor & Mrs. James B. Hunt Jr. and the Executive Mansion for their generousity and hospitality.