Mrs. Hunt Goes to Washington

As I am finishing this book, I am 90 years of age. In reviewing my life story here and contemplating what has happened, I realize that I would not change a thing. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, faithful and loving friends, an exciting career, and close contact with many leaders of government of the last 40 years. Even what seemed like significant roadblocks in my life turned out to be detours that led me to good things.

My proudest achievement is my family. My oldest son Gene did a stint in the Navy, came home to handle public relations for the University of Chattanooga later the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, worked for a while in a bank, and then ran Bill Brock’s congressional office for eight years and his Senate office for two years. Paralleling my own career, he then left to manage Congressman LaMar Baker’s Chattanooga office. When Congressman Baker lost after the Watergate fiasco, Gene entered the insurance and investment business. Today his firm...Gene Hunt and Associates...is very successful.

Gene never remarried after Betty died, raising Kathy and Ted as a single father. These grandchildren have in turn made us all proud. Ted has had a successful career in the promotion of professional sports, which he dearly loves. He is still single. Kathy now has two beautiful little girls...my great-grandchildren...Kelcey, age 12, and Emily, age 7.

Kathy and her husband, Chris Werner, together operate a computer sales and service business, Service on Site. They chose this career so they could be at home when the girls were there. It has worked beautifully, with Kathy making the calls and Chris operating the office out of their home. Best of all, they are wonderful parents.

My son Karl earned his doctorate in psychology and taught for several years at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Then the demand for psychology teachers diminished and there seemed little future in that field, so he changed careers and joined the Computer Science Department at Dalton College in Dalton, Georgia. Some 20 years later, he is now head of the department. He is looking forward to retirement so he can spend more time with his music. He plays the guitar with several musical groups and also writes some music. Much to my sorrow, he and Anne divorced some years ago. I love Anne and continue to see her frequently.

Karl and Anne’s oldest son and my oldest grandchild, Chris Hunt, is happily married. He and his wife, Sandy, have two sons...Chandler, age 7, and Chadwick, at this time only six weeks old. Chris has had a career in law enforcement, being one of the first proponents of bicycle patrolling, even conducting classes around the country in the art of police patrolling on a bicycle.

Karl and Anne’s youngest son, Kevin, is also involved with computers. He is happily engaged in computer repair in the Chattanooga area for Dell computers. Unhappily, his marriage ended in divorce a few years ago. At age 32, he is my youngest grandchild.

I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful family. Not only do I have two loving sons, but they have given me four grandchildren...and now four great-grandchildren. I hold them all dear every day.

One significant element running through my life has been volunteerism. Every really good job I ever had and many of my best friends resulted from volunteering. Most volunteers do what they do because of conviction, dedication, or just plain enjoyment. For that reason alone, if for no other, I found them delightful people. And when you volunteer, you can build, without setting out to do so, a network of friends that is most rewarding. With luck, you may even find romance!

In addition, volunteering is an “open sesame” to a career. Volunteering lets you give a sample of you...of your capabilities. If the recipient likes the sample, he or she will be willing to pay you for it. You might say: “Want a career? Volunteer!”

Only after putting this all down in writing did I realize that often events that seem devastating at the time lead to opportunities that otherwise would have been impossible. For example, I had a happy marriage for many years. I did not want a divorce. However, had I remained married, I would never have had the career I enjoyed in government and politics.

Also, I did not want to leave the Brock staff. However, had I stayed, I would have never had the opportunity to become a press secretary. Had Congressman Baker not lost his reelection after Watergate, it is unlikely I would have had the opportunity to work in the White House. And had I been successful in obtaining a position with the Reagan administration, it would have been unlikely for me to have had the career I enjoyed with the National Committee on the Public Employee Pension System. In other words, there seems to have been a plan for my life...and I believe good things often come in bad packages!

So, this book has told how that plan took shape over the years. My family and my friends have been an essential part of it. For them, I am truly grateful.

And this is where my story ends today. It has been suggested that I end the book with the phrase “to be continued.” In reality, even at age 90, life does go on, and I have other things to do.

Look for the sequel at age 100.