Kenneth (Coach) Raymond Hunt

Published in the Deseret News on 1/30/2008.

Morgan, Utah; Kenneth Raymond "Coach" Hunt, 69 passed away at his home, surrounded by family, Jan. 27, 2008.

He was born December 14, 1938 in Ogden, Utah, to Kenneth and Wanda Hunt. He grew up in Ogden and graduated from Ogden High School in 1957 where he was an all-state basketball and baseball player.

After high school, he attended BYU on a baseball and basketball scholarship. Ken married Carol Nelson on February 6, 1959. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.

He signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds where he played professional baseball for eight years. He was selected as the 1961 National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year. That same year the Reds won the National League Championship Pennant and he pitched in the fifth game of the 1961 World Series against the New York Yankees.

In 2004, Ken felt honored to be inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. Ken and Carol settled in Morgan where Ken taught English and coached at Morgan High School for 30 years, retiring in 2003.

He sincerely loved teaching in the classroom, on the basketball court and on the baseball field where he believed that every student and player had the potential to succeed. Ken enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, spending time with his family and watching sports.

He was a true basketball coach to the end, shouting at the Utah Jazz from bed while watching the game on television. He is survived by his mother, Wanda Hunt of Riverdale; wife, Carol, of Morgan; son Ken (Lisa) of Fruit Heights; daughter Jennifer (Todd) Peterson of Moab; son Adam (Michelle) of Morgan; brother Robert of Layton; brothers Kim and Blair of Ogden and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father.

The family would like to thank Dr. James J. Milavetz and his staff at the Heart of Utah, the nursing staff on the 3rd and 4th floor of the Heart and Lung Center at the Intermountain Medical Center and IHC Hospice personnel.

A viewing for Ken will be held on Thursday, January 31 from 6 to 8 pm at Walker Mortuary; 45 W. 200 N. in Morgan and again on Friday, February 1st from 10:45 to 11:45 at the Morgan Stake Center; 355 N. 700 E. in Morgan, prior to funeral services at 12:00.

Interment at the South Morgan Cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at: rhuntfamily@comcast.net.