Douglas Ivan Hunt

Legendary coach, politician, and Texas Longhorn cattleman Doug Hunt passed away on December 8th, surrounded by his loved ones after an extended battle with Parkinson's Disease. Doug's accomplishments are literally too many to list. A former Utah Legislator, Weber County Commissioner, and President of the National Association of Counties, Doug was also inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a college football coach (at both Dixie and Weber State Colleges) and for coaching championship high school teams (in both football and basketball), as well as coaching the "Junior M" Men's team from southern Utah to the (LDS) "All-Church" Basketball Championship. As a rancher, Doug was among the most decorated and celebrated Texas Longhorn cattle breeders of all time. Among his accomplishments was breeding and raising Hunt's Commands Respect, probably the greatest bull of his generation, along with consistently having his cattle be top-prize getters as well as handcrafting one of the most respected bloodlines in the Longhorn world today.
Born July 30, 1937, in St. George, Utah to Ivan Holt Hunt and Jessie (Waite) Hunt and was raised in Gunlock, Utah, as the eldest of nine children which included seven sisters. Directionless after graduating from Dixie High School in 1955, Doug was "hustling pool" in a St. George pool hall when new Dixie College football coach Sark Arslanian came in asking for him. Sark was trying to find the kid he'd heard was the "toughest player that ever came" through Dixie High. Sark signed him up on the spot to play football for Dixie College, ensuring that Doug would get an education, setting him on his life's path, and becoming Doug's mentor and life-long friend in the process.
While playing at Dixie he met pretty Dianne Johnson from Midway. Although their courtship had been somewhat aided by Doug's beating up any other guy who dared to asked her out (to her horror), she agreed to marry him anyway on May 10, 1957, in Midway, Utah (later solemnized in the St. George LDS Temple). Dianne stayed his cherished companion for the rest of his life. Whether Dianne really saw "the diamond in the rough" or whether Doug was just that persuasive remains a much-debated question.
After graduating from Dixie College he attended Utah State University, graduating with degrees in Physical Education and Psychology, and was the first of his fellow graduates to get a job offer coaching (and he got two offers!). His Hall of Fame coaching career concluded after coaching on Sark's staff at Weber State when he decided not to follow Sark to Colorado State. At Weber State, Doug was responsible for recruiting a phalanx of future NFL players. (And yes, you read that correctly: he persuaded NFL-level talent to play for tiny Weber State College in predominantly white and Mormon Ogden, Utah.)
A born teacher and leader, Doug was also a sought-after public speaker. Many will remember Doug's unique gift to communicate in a way that reached into people's hearts and lifted their spirits. Whether speaking to small groups or on the floor of the Utah Legislature, in rooms large and small, Doug moved people with his trademark humor and charisma, giving rousing speeches in front of stadium-sized crowds of his beloved 'Sunriders' or giving hours of quiet instruction to his fellow (and often somewhat awed) Texas Longhorn ranchers.
Doug was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in various callings over the years-including four LDS Missions with Dianne-but by far his favorite calling was as a Sunday School Teacher. Although Doug put hours of thought and preparation into his "worldly" speaking engagements, his most thoughtful and earnest preparation was for his wonderful, spirit-filled Sunday School classes. And as much as he admittedly enjoyed holding a crowd spellbound, his most focused attention was always given when the subject was the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the audience was a small group or one-on-one.
Among the most important facets of our father's life was his love for and testimony of the Book of Mormon. His enduring invitation to read the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes a day and the accompanying promise that doing so "would bring miracles in your life" continues to change countless lives for good.
Survived by his wife Dianne (Johnson) Hunt; children: Kent and Tammie Hunt of Santa Clara, Utah; Jeff and Kara Hunt of Wellington, Utah; Brad and Tammy Hunt of Diamond Valley, Utah (currently on an LDS Mission in Nauvoo, Ill.); Phil Hunt of Riverton, Utah; Lisa Hunt of Lehi, Utah; Brian and Michelle Hunt of Riverton, Utah; and Wendi Lee (nee' Dahm) Kelly and Matt Kelley of Bondurant, Iowa; 24 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren; his sisters Darleen (Jerry) Anderson, Mary Ellen (Roy) Strong, Dianna (John) Hafen, Mona Gai (Richard) Moon, Vicki Lynn (Wendell) Palmer, Debra Sue (Ethan) Bundy, and Chloe (Kelvin) Lee and his brother Jesse Kay (Pam Emett) Hunt.
Preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Jessie Hunt of Gunlock, Utah, by grandchildren Amber Hunt, Dallin Hunt, and Christa (Hunt) Fox.
Heartlight Funeral Services is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Douglas Ivan Hunt Funeral Time: Dec 13, 2024 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89431041484?pwd=yMu4ajimKP4MgI7k9yIOVkxgu5NWSb.1
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