(Almost) this day in NC State history: Jim Hunt becomes Student Body President

Contributed by Samantha Rich

[caption id="attachment_1453" align="alignleft" width="241" caption="James B. Hunt"]

Fifty-five years (and 3 days) ago, Governor James Baxter Hunt, Jr. became student body president of NC State. Originally elected vice-president of Student Government in the spring 1957 election, Hunt assumed the presidential position when senior Fred Houtz did not return to the college in the fall.

Hunt was the second junior to serve as president and the second student to serve two presidential appointments; in spring 1958, Hunt campaigned for a second term, which he won by more than 1,000 votes. In addition to Student Government, Hunt also served as editor of The Agriculturist and held membership in many honor societies, including the Order of Thirty and Three and Blue Key.

Recently, staff members from the NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center conducted an oral history interview with Governor Hunt as a part of the Libraries’ ongoing Student Leadership Initiative . During the interview, Hunt described how what he learned at NC State aided him as he continued his long career in politics.

To learn more about Governor Hunt or other NC State student body presidents, please visit Historical State . Be sure to also check out the Libraries’ website to keep up with the latest updates about the progress of the James B. Hunt, Jr. Library on NC State’s Centennial Campus.