The Honorable James Hunt Jr. was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. From 1964 to 1966, he served as a Ford Foundation economic advisor to Nepal. He served as lieutenant governor from 1973 to 1977 and as governor from 1977 to 1985. Reelected in 1992 and again in 1996, Governor Hunt served a historic fourth term. He was founding chair of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which promotes excellence in teaching through voluntary board certification.

He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 1959 and a master’s in agricultural economics in 1962 from North Carolina State University. He earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1964.