Wayne Hunt

After graduating from High School, I joined the Air Force and left
June 8, 1960 for basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. In late July I was assigned to Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, Florida where I was a Special Vehicle Specialist. I did not know at the time that I would soon be a part of the space program. On May 5, 1961, I saw Alan Shepard become the first American in space. Inside his tiny Mercury spacecraft, which he named Freedom 7, Shepard rode a Redstone booster on a 15-minute suborbital flight.

I then saw John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth on February 12, 1962. Inside his Friendship 7 spacecraft Glenn circled the globe three times, marveling at the beauty of orbital sunrises and sunsets before sweating through a fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Three more astronauts followed John Glenn in the Mercury program, but I did not see them.

On June 8, 1962, I married Barbara Ann Farmer (51 years), my best friend, then and now. As luck would have it, in July of 1962 I had orders to go to Chambly Air Force Base in France. Barbara sold my 1955 Ford to buy an airline ticket and joined me a few months later. We returned home in March 1964.

I had several jobs from 1964 until 1967 when I went to work at Hercules Incorporated and retired with 30 years of service. After I retired from Hercules in 1997, I worked for Jeff Wagner (Larry & Dianne Wagner’s son) for two years, and then had a home repair business for eight years.

In November 2005, Barbara was the first to sign up for a voluntary separation package from Hercules and retired after 37 years. But two weeks before her last day, she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The cancer was in her left eye orbit but had spread to the bone marrow and was diagnosed as Stage 4. What followed was one of the toughest times of our marriage. She took chemo for 30 months but is now in remission.

I have served in several civic organizations over the years. I held many positions in the Newton County Jaycees, including President until I became too old to serve (age 35). I have been active in the American Legion Post 32 since 1982 and continue to serve where needed. I have been active in our subdivision’s Deerfield Association for over 35 years, serving in many offices, including President. We have lived in the same house in Deerfield since Labor Day 1977. Barbara and I have been an active member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church since 1986 and am currently serving as Chairman of the Administrative Council.

In 2009 a committee was formed to plan the 50 year class reunion, which I served as chairman.
The reunion was enjoyed by everyone and that made it a success.

I enjoyed participating in sports activities, but my favorite class of all was mechanical drawing and shop under Mr. Burke.

I especially enjoyed all my friends and the great times that we had together. Life was easier for youngsters growing up then. We never had to worry about locking our car or the house.