James Hunt: Carrying the Spirit of Webb High School

James Hunt grew up knowing that success meant hard work. At Webb High School, that belief was reinforced daily—by strict teachers, high expectations, and the understanding that nothing would come easy.

When he graduated in 1960, he left with more than a diploma. He took with him a determination to push forward, whether in his career, his military service, or his lifelong commitment to his community.

“We entered Webb to learn, and we left Webb to serve,” Hunt said.

During his years at Webb, Hunt was deeply influenced by his teachers, particularly Mr. T.A. Walford, a history teacher and former Marine.

“He was a very, very, very strict man, but he taught me a lot,” Hunt recalled. “I learned not just from the books but also about life and how to live it.”

At a time when society was still segregated, Webb’s teachers instilled in students a determination to succeed.

“They taught us not to let that affect us in any kind of way,” Hunt said. “They also taught us that we had to be better than the next person. We had to study harder.”

Academics at Webb emphasized reading, writing, and arithmetic as the foundation for future success. Hunt took these lessons to heart, excelling both in and out of the classroom. He was elected class president in his sophomore, junior, and senior years and served as president of the student body during his final two years. He was also a member of Webb’s basketball team, which had a strong showing in his last two seasons.

After graduating, Hunt pursued his longtime dream of moving to Los Angeles, California. He had saved money beforehand, allowing him to support himself as he settled into a new city.

While exploring his neighborhood, he came across a large supermarket and noticed young men working as baggers.

“I walked up there one day and asked if they needed any help,” Hunt said. “One of them told me if I put in an application, I could probably get hired.”

That moment led to what became a 23-year career with Country Farms Market, a chain of grocery stores. Hunt started as a bagger in 1966 and worked his way up, eventually becoming a supervisor overseeing multiple stores before leaving the company in 1986.

Hunt’s career path was briefly interrupted by the Vietnam War, but his military service took him to Germany rather than Vietnam.

“I was in the military from 1966, and that was during the Vietnam War,” he said. “But they sent me to Germany for two years.”

After completing his service, he returned to Country Farms Market and continued working there until the late 1980s.

In 1991, Hunt moved back to Huntingdon, where he began working with adults who have mental disabilities. He remained in that role for 15 years, continuing his lifelong dedication to helping others.

Hunt also rejoined his home church, New Reedy Creek Baptist Church, where he took on a new mission—bringing more children into the congregation.

“We didn’t have many young kids coming to church at that time,” Hunt said. “So I talked to the deacons and the pastor about getting a church van.”

With their support, he began driving a church van to pick up children from Huntingdon, Hollow Rock, Bruceton, and other nearby towns.

“To this day, I still do that,” he said. “I am 82 years old, and I still drive that bus every Sunday and some Wednesdays, taking kids to church. It has been a true blessing.”

Through every chapter of his life, Hunt credits Webb High School for the success he achieved.

“I attribute all of my success to being a young man out of Webb High School,” he said. “They taught more than book sense. They taught us how to be young men. They taught us how to work for whatever we wanted.”

His love for Webb remains strong, and to show his appreciation, Hunt ended his conversation with a verse from the Webb High School alma mater:

“Oh, Webb, we lift our voice… We love thee, Webb, we love thee, Webb… God bless the blue and gold.”

Hunt continues to carry forward the values Webb instilled in him—hard work, leadership, and service to others.