Robert Dean Hunter

American politician

Robert Dean Hunter

Bob Hunter

Member of the Texas State Representative from Taylor and Nolan counties
In office
15 August 1986 – 9 January 2007
Preceded by| Gary E. Thompson
Succeeded by| Susan King
Personal details
Born|  (1928-06-25) 25 June 1928 (age 97)
Dodge City, Kansas, USA
Political party| Republican
Spouse| Shirley Long Hunter
Residence(s)| Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
Alma mater| Abilene Christian University
Occupation| Vice-president emeritus of Abilene Christian University

Robert Dean Hunter, known as Robert D. Hunter or Bob Hunter (born 25 June 1928), is a retired vice president at Church of Christ-affiliated Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and a Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives, in which from 1986 to 2007 he represented District 71.[1]

Hunter was born in Dodge City in western Kansas. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Abilene Christian University. He also holds honorary doctorates from Pepperdine University near Malibu, California, Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, the University of St. Thomas in Houston, and the Southern Baptist-affiliated Hardin-Simmons University, also in Abilene.

On 9 August 1986, Hunter won a special election with 50.5 percent of the ballots cast to fill the District 71 House seat vacated by the Democrat Gary E. Thompson, who resigned on 2 June. Hunter became the first Republican since Reconstruction to represent Abilene and Taylor County in the state legislature.[2]

Hunter and his wife, the former Shirley M. Long (born c. 1933), have resided in Abilene since 1956. The 57,000-square-foot Hunter Welcome Center, named in their honor, was dedicated at ACU in 2009.[3]

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "Robert D. "Bob" Hunter". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
2. ^ "Republican lands in House as Senate race goes to runoff: Republican Robert Hunter won with 50.8 percent of the vote ...", Austin American Statesman, 10 August 1986
3. ^ "ACU's History: 2009". acu.edu. Archived from the original on 29 October 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2014.

Texas House of Representatives

Preceded by

Gary E. Thompson

|  Texas State Representative from District 71 (then Taylor and Nolan counties; now Taylor, Jones, and Nolan)

Robert Dean Hunter
1986–2007

| Succeeded by

Susan King