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Samuel Hunter Obituary

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Samuel Hunter

Colorado Springs, CO

September 1, 1919 - December 26, 2013

Samuel Hunter Obituary

Samuel C. Hunter, Jr. passed away on December 26, 2013 at the age of 94. He was born in Crockett, Texas, to Samuel C. Hunter, Sr., and Elmira Jane (Wheeler) Hunter who preceded him in death along with his sister, Barbara Jane (Hunter) Mendes. He graduated from Colorado Springs High School in 1936 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1940 from West Virginia State College. He continued his education, graduating the next year from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois. Sam served his country during World War II in the US Army Air Force. He graduated in the class of 44-J as a 2nd Lt. B-25 pilot and cadet captain of his class. He separated from the United States Army Air Force in November 1945 with a commercial pilot license and was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force Reserve as a Captain in September, 1959. He is a DOTA (Documented Original Tuskegee Airman) and a recipient, with other DOTAs, of the Congressional Gold Medal, awarded in 2007. Sam assisted his father and then directed the operation of Hunter Mortuary and later was a funeral director affiliated with Evergreen Funeral Home. He was also the first black real estate broker in Colorado Springs, operating Hunter & Company Real Estate firm until 2000. He pioneered multi-family housing for minorities by developing the Payne Chapel Housing program and was chairman of the board when Prince Hall Housing was implemented. Being active in business, civic and fraternal activities, Sam received numerous awards, acknowledgements and citations. Among them were the Colorado College Diversity Award as an advocate for equality in housing and contributions to the community, business, education and civic activities of Colorado Springs and the NAACP Living Legends Award for Civil Rights Activism in the Colorado Springs community. Sam was a past member of several organizations, including the original Head Start Board, the Colorado Springs Park & Recreation Board, the Golf Commission and the Board of Directors of the Colorado Springs Board of REALTORS. He is past president and life member of the local NAACP, past president of the local Urban League, and a former member of the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority. He tutored in the reading programs for elementary school students. He was a Past Most Worshipful Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons, Jurisdiction of Colorado & Utah; an Active 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and Deputy for Colorado & Utah in the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Prince Hall Affiliated, Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Inc.; a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, an Elk and a charter member of the Xi Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He was a lifetime member and Trustee Emeritus of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church. Sam was an endeared family man and friend. He had lifelong friends from college and was an avid golfer, playing well into his 80’s with his golf buddies. He was an example to his children and grandchildren of how to live life in the moment while also anticipating the future. “Do your best so you can be all you can be” were his last words of advice. He was supportive, forgiving, loving and always present. He is still here with us in our hearts. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 63 years, Minnie Ray; children Jocelyn Bailey (Edward), Samuel C. Hunter, III, Carol Hunter; grandchildren Keisha Bailey and Kory Bailey (Megan); great grandchildren Alexander, Hunter, and Samuel Bailey; cousins David and Reginald Washington and their families; and close family friends Sidney Darden and Val Thomas. Visitation will be at Shove Memorial Chapel on Thursday, January 2, 2014, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, with Fraternal Services beginning at 5:30 pm. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 3, 2014, at Shove Memorial Chapel on the campus of Colorado College, 1010 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the scholarship fund for the Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones (HLHJ) Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., P.O. Box 370431, Denver CO 80237; the scholarship fund for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Attn: Uplift Foundation, P.O. Box 2288, Colorado Springs CO 80901; or a charity of your choice in his name.

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Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Samuel Hunter.