William Boyd Hunt Sr.

1916 - 2007

William Boyd Hunt Sr., 91, a distinguished professor of theology emeritus at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, passed away Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007.
Funeral: noon Friday, Dec. 28, at Gambrell Street Baptist Church. Dr. Hunt was laid to rest in Greenwood Memorial Park beside his wife, Connie Hunt.
Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the James L. West Center, 1111 Summit Ave., Fort Worth 76102; or the Van Cliburn Foundation, 2525 Ridgmar Blvd., Suite 307, Fort Worth 76116.
William Boyd Hunt was born Aug. 7, 1916, to Roland Merritt Hunt and Sarah Louisa Boyd Hunt in Creston, Iowa. He graduated from Creston High School and accepted a call to full-time Christian ministry at First Baptist Church of Creston. Among his favorite boyhood memories were his father's faithfulness, his mother's gardens and cooking and his dairy work days with his cousin, Jim Boyd.
Boyd graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., where he served as president of his class and as yell leader. While at Wheaton, Boyd met Connie Betty Moore of Altus, Okla. They married Feb. 23, 1940, and celebrated their 67th anniversary this year. Theirs was a wonderful union of two people who never ceased caring for each other.
After receiving his Th.D. from Southwestern, Dr. Hunt served as the pastor of Houston First Baptist Church from 1946-53. In 1953 he wrote "Sixteen to One" and returned to the seminary to teach theology, retiring in 1987 but continuing as an adjunct professor until 1999. The seminary recognized him as a distinguished professor in 1980 and also as a distinguished alumnus in 1982. In 1993 he wrote "Redeemed! Eschatological Redemption and the Kingdom of God." He was active in the life of his denomination, serving on the executive committees of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He served as interim pastor at many churches throughout the convention with whose congregations he shared a lifelong affection.
In his community, Dr. Hunt served as a president of the Kiwanis Club of Fort Worth and as a member of the board of directors of the Fort Worth Symphony.
Beyond those endeavors he was the dedicated father of three children, each of whom appreciated his unceasing efforts to provide them love and support. He fought the good fight all of his life with open-handed grace and integrity.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Connie; his sister, Carolyn Louisa Hunt Finke; and his brother, Roland Merritt Hunt Jr.
Survivors: Children, Beth Harrington and her husband, Dr. John Norris Harrington of Dallas, Bill Hunt and his wife, Ann Henderson Hunt of Kansas City, Kan., and Anne Hunt Barker of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; cousins, including Mrs. Jim (Gayle) Boyd of Marshalltown, Iowa; nieces; nephews; extended-family members; and friends.