Thomas E. Hunt

01/12/1942 — 08/08/2021

From Olympia, WA | Born in Oakland, CA

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Inurnment

Starts:
Sat, August 13, 2022, 10:00 am
Ends:
Sat, August 13, 2022, 11:00 am
Location:
Sunset Gardens
915 Bypass Highway, Richland, WA 99352

Celebration of Life

Starts:
Sat, August 13, 2022, 11:30 am
Ends:
Sat, August 13, 2022, 3:30 pm
Location:
Events at Sunset
915 Bypass Highway

Richland, WA 99352

Thomas E. Hunt

Thomas Erwin Hunt was born in Oakland, Calif., to Wallace Mason Hunt and Barbara Erwin Hunt and passed away in Olympia, Wash., surrounded by loving family members.
Tom’s youth was spent in Richland, Wash. He had great memories of working long, hot summers with his uncles on the Erwin Brothers wheat ranch in Prescott. On the ranch, Tom learned the importance of a solid work ethic that served him well. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1960, where he played football for the Richland Bombers. While in high school, he had a notable performance as Sakini in the Richland Players’ production of The Teahouse of the August Moon.
Tom’s lifelong love of all things Cougar began at Washington State University in Pullman. There, he found a home in both the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications, graduating in 1964. While attending school, he married Elizabeth Eileen Benoliel. Together they had three sons, Daniel Arthur, Damon Mason and Jason Lawrence.
Tom had a long and successful career in media and public relations. He held many public relations positions, notably as the press secretary to Congressman Mike McCormack (D-WA), as a news anchor with the Cascade Broadcasting Corporation in Yakima and Tri-Cities, as media and public affairs manager for the Atomic Industrial Forum, and as a partner in Bacon & Hunt Public Relations in Portland. Beyond professional life, Tom was active in numerous organizations, including Clark County Historical Society, WSU Foundation, past chair and member of the professional advisory board to WSU’s Murrow School of Communication, Oregon Professional Services Council, and Vancouver Rotary.
Though his reach was broad, Tom never failed to make a genuine connection wherever he went. Tom rarely ever met a stranger and genuinely enjoyed the company of others. He loved a well-told story, a great cup of coffee, and cowboy poetry. He could sing half of the lyrics and hum the rest of every song written by Rogers and Hammerstein or any other classic Broadway musical. Tom cherished his family’s history and collected many sentimental and historical items from earlier generations. His love of family was an integral part of who Tom was. He always beamed with pride while recalling a story about his niece, nephew, kids or grandchildren. He is greatly loved and truly missed.
Tom was preceded in death by his son, Daniel Arthur; and is survived by his sons, Damon and Jason and their families, including grandchildren, Daniel, Robert, Lauren and Robin.

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Thomas E. Hunt

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  • Tom was a kind and funny man. He mentored so many as he and my Uncle, Tony Bacon, would bring in so many interns to the Bacon & Hunt PR company. They helped to launch so many careers, mine being one of them. He treated every person with respect. A very classy man for sure!

    Eventually Tom came to work at Gerber Advertising where we worked together. Later on he started his own PR firm where he’d bring me in as a designer on many projects.

    A funny memory was when one Friday afternoon I went to the office to visit Tom, my Uncle, and my mom Mary who was their administrative assistant. And because it was a Friday they were having margaritas! During this time Tom showed a trick he could do, stand in front of his desk then jump up and land with both feet planted on the desk…without spilling his drink.he did it without spilling a drop. A very impressive trick.

    Tom was always full of joy. RIP.

    Linda Lawyer
    August 23, 2022
    Portland
  • Beautiful Memorial! One of the best I have seen! Love to all family and friends that made it so great!
    RIP Tom you are a great guy xo

    sonia lynn shelzi
    August 13, 2022
    Mesa Arizona
  • Made a difference

    Doug Lasher
    August 13, 2022
    Vancouver
  • I met Tom when I moved to his neighborhood and joined his class in the third grade at Jefferson Grade School in Richland, Washington. We both played in the Drum and Bugle Corps in the 4th grade. After acting in plays at Chief Jo Junior High with his cousin John Hall, Tom and I were in a number of plays at Col-Hi (Richland High School). When we were kids, my parents organized ballroom-type dancing lessons in our basement for kids in our class and neighborhood, including Tom. We enjoyed catching up at the class reunions; he was always one of my favorite classmates. I am so sorry that he has left us.

    Stephanie Dawson Janicek
    August 13, 2022
    West Richland, Washington
  • I met Tom in 1977 when I went to work for the Atomic Industrial Forum. I have many fond memories of working with him… he was smart, hard working and had a fabulous sense of humor!

    He loved his boys and always had a story about their growing up years.

    Tom was a loyal and true friend and we stayed in touch through all the many years.

    Rest In Peace dear friend.

    Lisa
    August 13, 2022
    Steward
  • I met Tom when I moved to the Tri-Cities. I had worked in television news in the early 60’s in Oklahoma City so we had some common experiences. My Career in Public Relations led me to stay in touch with Tom when he moved to Washington DC with Congressman McCormack. Tom was key to my training in Washington issues and always had time to answer questions and explain happenings that affected our community. His friendly manner and easy going style was key to his success. He quickly became a key asset to the entire Washington political delegation.
    In 1974 we moved to Washington and Tom helped me understand the Federal arena. Our paths would cross at hearings, conferences and the Federal agencies.
    Tom returned to the Northwest where he dealt with issues for WPPSS. He later joined Bacon and Hunt Public Relations in Portland. We continued to work together on issues and provide support to many national and local firms. When I retired in 1994 we worked together on several PR and marketing accounts.
    Jane and I gathered with Tom, the Waltons and Bagley in 2003 and at a Bagley wedding in 2011.
    We stayed in touch by phone and press clippings over the years. We had some wonderful experiences together . He made a difference on both a professional and personal level.
    A live well lived, Tom.

    Jane and David Shoaf
    August 8, 2022
    Stuart,

    Jane and David Shoaf
    August 8, 2022
    Stuart, Florida
  • I met Tom when I moved to the Tri-Cities. I had worked in television news in the early 60’s in Oklahoma City so we had some common experiences. My Career in Public Relations led me to stay in touch with Tom when he moved to Washington DC with Congressman McCormack. Tom was key to my training in Washington issues and always had time to answer questions and explain happenings that affected our community. His friendly manner and easy going style was key to his success. He quickly became a key asset to the entire Washington political delegation.
    In 1974 we moved to Washington and Tom helped me understand the Federal arena. Our paths would cross at hearings, conferences and the Federal agencies.
    Tom returned to the Northwest where he dealt with issues for WPPSS. He later joined Bacon and Hunt Public Relations in Portland. We continued to work together on issues and provide support to many national and local firms. When I retired in 1994 we worked together on several PR and marketing accounts.
    Jane and I gathered with Tom, the Waltons and Bagley in 2003 and at a Bagley wedding in 2011.
    We stayed in touch by phone and press clippings over the years. We had some wonderful experiences together . He made a difference on both a professional and personal level.
    A live well lived, Tom.

    Jane and David Shoaf
    August 8, 2022
    Stuart, Florida
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