Grant J. Hunt Company, an Oakland, California-based produce distribution firm, has announced that Grant J. “Jim” Hunt, Jr. has died at the age of 94.
Mr. Hunt graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1943.
Mr. Hunt joined Grant J. Hunt Company in 1946 after his rehabilitation from wounds received in battle during World War II in France in the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Hunt took the helm of the company in 1949 after the sudden death of the company founder, Grant J. Hunt, Sr. where he served as company President for decades until his retirement in 1992.
Mr. Hunt spent many hours outside of his career pursuing volunteer work; particularly in areas working with youth. He served as Scoutmaster for many years with the Boy Scouts of America followed by service on the Board of Directors of Piedmont Council. Mr. Hunt was awarded the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts for positively impacting the lives of the youths that he led.
Mr. Hunt served on many Board positions of the Produce Marketing Association including leading the association as President in 1981. His model of service to PMA carried through to his son Grant M. Hunt, who served as PMA Chair in 1999. To date, they are the only father-son duo to ever serve in the Board President/Chair capacity. Under Jim Hunt’s leadership, PMA’s three divisions (retail, foodservice and floral) developed policies to enhance the growth of the industry; particularly meant to attract youth to the produce industry which was his passion.
“Jim Hunt had already completed his term as Chairman of the PMA Board when I joined the association in 1983. Nonetheless, he took the time to school me in the workings of our industry and the lessons he had learned throughout his career. Jim’s unselfish service to the industry he loved is one reason I was so pleased to visit him just weeks ago at his home, where he reminisced so lucidly on shared experiences. Like his son Grant, another PMA Chairman of the Board, Jim understood so well the mutual benefit that flows from leadership service to others across an industry” stated Bryan Silbermann, Retired PMA CEO.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for April 5 at St. Helena Catholic Church in St. Helena, CA.
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