Kermit Hunter

Background

Hunter, Kermit was born on October 3, 1910 in Hallsville, West Virginia, United States. Son of Otis John and Lillian Elizabeth Robinson (Farley) Hunter.

Education

Bachelor, Ohio State University, 1931. Master of Arts in Theatre, University North Carolina, 1949. Doctor of Philosophy in English Lit, University North Carolina, 1956.

Doctor of Literature, Emory and Henry College, 1958. Doctor of Humane Letters, Oklahoma Christian College, 1971.

Career

During his time at Ohio State, Hunter was initiated into the Theta Delta chapter of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. After graduation, he held a number of jobs and joined the United States. Army in 1940. After rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, he became the assistant chief of staff of the Caribbean Defense Command.

After World World War II, he served as the business manager for the North Carolina Symphony.

In 1947, Hunter decided to pursue graduate studies in the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While enrolled, three of Hunter"s plays were produced by the Carolina Playmakers, a dramatic group at the University.

The play opened July 1, 1950 and still plays on at the Mountainside Theatre. He also wrote the play for the Cherokee Nation based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This play was performed each summer at the Cherokee Heritage Center located south of Tahlequah until the mid-90"son

After receiving his masters, Hunter remained in Chapel Hill to pursue his Doctor of Philosophy After receiving his Doctor of Philosophy in 1955, he accepted the position of professor of drama at Hollins College (now Hollins University) in Roanoke, Virginia.

Leaving Hollins in 1964, he became the first dean of the Meadows School of Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

After stepping down as dean in 1976, he remained at Southern Methodist as a writer in residence until 1978. After leaving Southern Methodist he was named as a senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Arlington. He retired in 1993 and died in Dallas on April 11, 2001.

During his extraordinary career, Hunter wrote over 40 historical dramas that were performed all over the United States.

Of these dramas, only three,, in Boone, North Carolina and in Beckley, West Virginia, are still performed at present.

Achievements

• Kermit Hunter has been listed as a notable Writer, university dean by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

• book

  • "Unto These Hills" (A Drama of the Cherokee Indians) 1955 Souvenir Program

    (9" x 12"; 52 pages of photos, feature articles, and adver...)

  • Unto These Hills: A Drama of the Cherokee (Unc Press Enduring Edition)

    (This is the story of the desperate effort made by these c...)

  • Unto These Hills - A Drama of the Cherokee Indian - Mountainside Theatre 1953 Season Program
  • Kermit Hunter's "Horn in the West" (Playbill, Daniel Boone Amphitheatre. Boone, North Carolina.)
  • Unto these hills;: A drama of the Cherokee

Membership

Served to lieutenant colonel Army of the United States, 1940-1945.

Connections

Father:

Otis John Hunter

Mother:

Lillian Elizabeth Robinson (Farley) Hunter