After years of service to special education, a dedicated couple are receiving their due recognition.
Clarkston SCAMP, a summer camp for those with special needs, will ‘celebrate the legacy? of Jack and the late Alice Hunt, Thursday, July 17, at noon, at Clarkston Middle School where the five-week long camp began June 23 and runs through July 24.
The council of the City of the Village of Clarkston, in appreciation, even adopted a resolution at their June 23 meeting that July 17 be recognized as Jack and Alice Hunt Day for their contributions to SCAMP.
But let’s take a look back at how it all began.
Living in southern Indiana, Alice and Jack met in high school. Alice’s dad was also the local dentist. She would often be in the office, while her father worked. And every time Jack had to go to the dentist, he kept his eye on her.
Jack and Alice soon began a friendship that would last a lifetime.
When Alice, who was two years younger then Jack, graduated from high school, she struggled to find a job.
Her Uncle Ernie came to Pontiac in 1924 after losing the store he owned from a depleting economy during World War I. She followed and found herself a job at Kresge’s, five and dime store, in downtown Pontiac.
Jack came to Michigan in October 1925. With an engineering degree, he was hired at the Fisher Body Plant for 90 cents an hour.
One day Jack went shopping for ‘better work clothes.? He was walking down Saginaw Street in Pontiac when he ran into Uncle Ernie who said, ‘Did you know Alice is in town? This is a lonesome place for her. Go see her.?
So, Jack went to visit her at the store. ‘When she seen me she came out from behind the counter with her arms open. That was our first hug and kiss.?
Before he left the store, he asked her to have an ice cream soda with him after she got off work. She agreed.
The two dated 14 months and were married August 7, 1927. The Hunts had two children, Anne, born in 1929, and James, nicknamed ‘Bud,? born in 1934. (They also have four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.)
In 1962, the Hunts were personally touched by someone with special needs. Their grandson, Bud and his wife Luella Bell’s son, Mark Jerome Hunt, was born with mental and physical impairments. This began a long journey of fighting for the rights of special needs people.
‘When Mark came along, Alice said, ‘I can help with the handicapped; educate them. I want you to meet the public, raise money. You’ve done it for the church. You have that experience.?
And so, as they were in marriage, they became in their support of the special needs community: ‘a team.?
In the 1950’s and 1960’s facilities and programs for the handicap were nonexistent. Many with impairments were put into institutions.
Jack and Alice wanted this to change. They wanted to ‘improve the abilities and lives of handicap people.?
They first joined the ARC, Association for Retarded Citizens; became involved in Special Olympics when it began in the early 1960’s, and fought legislation to instate special education programs in the public school system in 1972.
In 1976, Jack and Alice had $1,200 given from the ARC Waterford Township chapter, where Bud was president. The Hunts, with the help of other concerned individuals in the community, used the money to fund the first SCAMP program, which sought to provide recreational activities and maintenance academic work to multiple impaired children and young adults. Seventy-five students attended.
At this time, Jack and Alice went to Lansing to see SCAMP become a nonprofit organization. Since, SCAMP has flourished. Last year, 354 students attended the camp.
‘They had a vision of what could be and made it happen,? Donna Clancy, SCAMP director, said. ‘And now Jack is working diligently to assure SCAMP will go on forever.?
‘Jack Hunt has been involved in every single fundraiser since day one. If he’s not on a committee, he’s at an event as support.?
Specifically, he was instrumental in recruiting the Civitans to serve refreshments annually at the Walk & Roll; seeing the Knights of Columbus from various communities donate a portion of their Tootsie Roll sales to SCAMP; implemented the Home Tour; and much more.
Of the Hunts, Clancy said, ‘He was the backbone. He’s very personable and likes to got out and do all the talking. Alice’s background was in special education. She did all the behind-the-scenes work. She was a quiet person, but strong and instrumental in the background.?
The special July 17 event was the idea of a friend of Clancy’s, who volunteered at this year’s Home Tour, where she had a chance to talk and get to know Jack.
She suggested to Clancy, Jack should be honored for all he’s done. Clancy took control and has made it happen. (Jack can’t say enough good things about Clancy, and feels she is doing a tremendous job as director.)
Pat Brumback, former director of Student Support Services for Clarkston Community Schools, will return to Clarkston to emcee the event. ‘She and Jack go back to the very beginning,? Clancy said.
Many will be in attendance for the affair, including the Hunt family from North Carolina and Grand Rapids, past SCAMP directors and board members, old time friends, and many others.
Jack, who will even be sporting a brand new suit, featuring the SCAMP logo, the SCAMP board purchased as a gift for the event, is pleased to be part of this event, mainly for Alice’s sake. Alice passed away in 1990 from cancer after ?64 years, four months and four days of marriage.?
Jack, who’ll turn 96 on Christmas Day and is ‘going for 120,? said, ‘Alice never got a thank you. She was never recognized. This is my opportunity to highlight Alice. She did her share. I couldn’t do it all by myself. Everything I did, as long she lived, Alice had her hand in. This is a great opportunity to say thank you to Alice.?