Overview
- Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt announced her father’s death on Thursday, saying he died at his Wilson County home at age 88.
- Hunt served four terms over 16 years (1977–1985 and 1993–2001), enabled by a 1977 constitutional change allowing consecutive gubernatorial terms.
- He centered state policy on public education, launching Smart Start, expanding full‑day kindergarten, raising teacher pay, and helping establish the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
- After losing a high-profile 1984 U.S. Senate race to Jesse Helms, he returned to win two more gubernatorial terms and later influenced policy through the Hunt Institute.
- Memorial plans are being finalized, with WRAL reporting a Dec. 26 public funeral service and a condolence book at the North Carolina State Capitol.