I 'jut 28 im
-
MARY UVERMORE LIBRARY
rOWROKE STATE UfllVBWTY - ?
IIirilina Indian Voice
Pern | -.pj ^ Robeson County
| I ^ 11 "Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting"
The Hvuorable
Mayor Milton Ray Hunt, town of Pembroke
Pembroke-The town of Pembroke and Mayor Milton Ray Hunt are
synonymous. They go together like peaches and cream, like a cold Pepsi and
square nab at the end of a tobacco row, or maybe an ver-cooled watermelon
and a hot, sultry summer afternoon They fit,It's hard to imagine one without 1
the other.
Mayor Hunt, now 48, was born "behind Pates Supply Company" in '
downtown Pembroke... .in a company house "no longer standing." Things have
changed a lot since then, for both Mayor Hunt and the town of Pembroke: both
have grown up considerably since that February IS day in 1944.
Hunt says little about his biological parents, noting that he was raised from
birth by his grandmother, "the only real mother I ever had. She mostly raised
me, and was living with me when die died in 1973.1 remember well that I was
29 years old at the time. She was 69." She was Mrs. Josephine Sampson Hunt,
the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Everitt Sampson of the Deep Branch
Community. She was married to Harley Hunt, who died in 1953 at the
relatively young age of S3.
Later on, after leaving the house behind Pates Supply Company, the Hunts,
with grandson, Milton Ray, in tow, moved to Breece Street in Pembroke where
the Mayor still resides in a renovated version of the original home be grew up
in. He is married to the former Polly Deese, now an elementary school teacher
at J4&ioif elementary School. They are the proud parents of two children:
Anthony, 24; and Kimberly, 21. Both children have their own families now,
and have presented their parents with four grandchildren to "love and spoil" as
the mayor freely admits.
Mayor Hunt remembers growing up and playing in the streets of Pembroke
as a youngster A product of the Pembroke schools, Mayor Hunt is remembered
for playing a "mean" game of pool. Contrary to the protestations of Vice
President Dan Quayle, Mayor Hunt seems not have been unnecessarily scarred
by growing up mostly in a one grandparent home, although be does admit to
growing up "m a hurry." He notes that "I've been mostly on my own since I
was about twelve."
Mayor Hunt has long made his living from the sheetrock business. Mayor
Hunt remembers being introduced to the dry wall business by the late Dock
SmrthvDean Sampson and others. He begun as a hanger and finisher and for
die last eighteen yean has "been on his own" as a contractor He generally
works from 10-20 men, depending on the business. For instance. Mayor Hunt
laments that "right now our business is down some because we're in a
recession." <
as. *r . a t_a ? ? ? ? ? ?? * ? ? ? * -
Mayor nuni rranxiy enjoys wnat ne ooes ror a living, ana nas oeveiopeo i
quite a clientele. He does mostly "bidded work," and concentrates on muiti- <
housing (apartments, condominiums etc.) and residential structures.. Hunt <
proudly notes that many ofhis men have been with him for a number of years, 1
and that he probably has worked as many as 500 men (and women too) over 1
the years He affirms that he doesn't know anyone who might be mad with him <
about a business dealing. He likes to pay top wages, and believes, truly, that
a man's word is his bond He likes to satisfy his clients, and will do whatever
it takes to complete a job satisfactorily
In spite of his entrepreneurial leanings, Mayor Hunt might love politics
mare. He especially enjoys being involved in a political race that pits his
candidate against another. Right now, Mayor Hunt is intimately involved in
former Governor Jim Hunt's spirited bid for another term as governor ofNorth
Carolina. Mayor Hunt serves as one of Governor Hunt's tri-county chairmen -
in Robeson County. He shares the helm with Lumberton Mayor Ray Pennington
and David Green, a Parkton businessman and member of the Public Schools
of Robeson County Board of Education Although not related, Mayor Hunt is 1
a great fan of former Governor Jim Hunt, He previously participated in his *
successful 1976 and 1980 campaigns for governor, & in his losing against c
Senator Jesse Helms in 1984. He believes that Governor Hunt is "People c
orientated, and would be a welcome relief after eight years of Republican
Governor Jim Martin." Jim Hunt is vying with Jim Gardner, presently serving e
as Lt. Governor to replace the outgoing Martin. 1
Mayor Hunt cant remember when he hasnt been involvedin apolitical race,
either his own or someone else's'. He remembers some of the campaigns be has ?
been involved in over the years. He served as county chairman for John Ingram
in his Vwi"g bid against Helms in 78, and was involved in the Eddie Knox '
campaign in '84. He also served as co-chairman locally for Senator Terry
Sanfordin 1986, and in Bob Jordan's campaign for governor in '88. .
And he a great deal of pride in having been intimately involved in
Glenn Mayno^s bid for Sheriff in 1990 He counts Maynor as one of his best
friends. They both share a love of politics, especially Robeson County-style
politics. f
? ? *? i.a a Aa_i i IJ? A?mKr kaltauac fhat net* *?
Mayor Hunt sees a uxoigoou wings uijwiiuu ? muuj wuv.wwvw
can make a difference in politics, citing his own experiences in the town of
Pembroke. He has run seven successful campaigns in Pembroke, and was first c
elected to the town council in 1975. He has never admitted getting tired of r
politics. Mayor Hunt says that "everyone should get involved in politics. The h
problem is too many people sit on the sidelines and let others run the political
animal, whether it's a town council, the governor's office, or the presidency. It
takes people getting involved in a personal way to make a real difference in
every day life."
Having never lost an election, Mayor Hunt won his present position in 1983
He is especially proud that he ran without opposition in 1987. The 1987 race
is the only time there has not been opposition in mayoral races in Pembroke
Having won another four year term in 1991, Mayor Hunt will have completed (
twelve years as mayor when the term expires in 1995. I
Hunt follows an illustrious list of Pembroke mayors since the town won the
right to vote and choose their own mayor in 1947. Until then, the governor ?
chose the predominately-Indian town's mayor. Until 1947, the governor
always chose a noo-Indian as mayor. The late and be loved Rev. CELocklear
broke die logger jam when be won the first election in 1948 in which the Indian
electorate was allowed to vote. Locklear was followed by the late J.C.
Oxendine, then Samuel Locklear, Eariie Maynor, Juddie Revels, Jr., Reggie
Strickland, Pete Jacobs, and the incumbent. Mayor Milton Ray Hunt. Hunt
began swing on the council during Reggie Strickland's term as mayor. He also
served during Pete Jacobs' term as mayor. Hunt extols both men, calling
6fint rate mayors. "Pembroke is fortunate to have men like Strickland and
a. and those who preceded them too." Strickland was recently named by
r Hint to head Pembroke's bousing authority, and Jacobs is the county
tax administrator
Hunt well of McDuffie Cummings, the town manager for
Pembroke 1976. "We're fortunate to have someone of Mr. Cummings'
ability to fead our town for the last fifteen and one-half years. Ooing to a
??i sgu-council form of government wee a progressive and good step for
Pembroke has received some S4 million dollars in Community Develop
f and other" grants over the last few yean. As many as 300 homes have
refurbished since Hunt went on Pembroke's Town Council in 1975. "I
df""* believe there arc -"?"?nidaied bourne left in Pembroke. I am real proud
* dfoar work in this area." Mayo* Hunt baa served with many councilman said
roeaks well of most of tbem As an example, he speaks glowingly of Larry T.
Brooks who has served in the council for fourteen years.
Hunt has served on a number of boards and organizations since throwing his
hat into the political arena. For instance, be served eight years on the board of
trustees for Robeson Community College, the last two as vice-chairman. He
has also served on the board of directors of the Southeastern Economic
Development Commission, and was one of the founding members of the
Cardinal Health Agency. He presently serves on the Lumber River Council of
Governments. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Mayor Hunt recently served
as chairman of the re-building of the Pembroke Jaycees Clubhouse after a
recent Ere where he identifies himself these days as "an exalted rooster."
Hunt also expresses pride in helping found the Big Buck Hunting Club. The
club leases 3,000 acres in Pender County, and maintains a lodge there for the
member's benefit. Hunt has served as president of the club for eighteen years.
Hunt believes everything is "political," and is proud to call himself a
politician who tries to make the world around him a better place. A good family
man, Hunt is proud of the kind s of businesses which have located in Pembroke
in recent years like Colony Plaza, Pemberton Place, the expansion of Fleetwood,
Progressive Savings and Loan, Linda's Restaurant, Daniel's Bakery, and a new
Food Lion Store that is ticketed to open in the western end of town soon.
"Politics is a way of helping people, and I am proud of the recent accomplish
ments in Pembroke. 1 hope 1 have played a little pari in our general progress.
1 am also proud of the improving relations with Pembroke State University and
Lumbee Regional Development Association, Inc. in recent years. I feel good
about that..."
In spite of his business interests, and political campaigns, Hunt stays busy
as Mayor, averaging 100-150 appearances a year. In spite of what some may
think, my primary interest is in helping my hometown grow. I am proud to be
a citizen of the town of Pembroke." If towns could talk, the town of Pembroke
would express its pride in its native son too. The citizens, m noted, have
expressed its pride seven times in electing him to represent them, a y
Bruce Barton is now a history teacher in the Public Schools of Robeson
Coimty. Hedotprend to have been the founder of the Carolina Indian Voiee,
and served as its editor for a number of years before changing forums.
A CORRECTION....OF SORTS
Recently this writer wrote an article about Jim Lewry, one of the many
entrepreneurs in the Indian camp. The article was well received, but one
?mart eleck pointed out that the editor might not know how to
ipelT'entreprenenr" since the sub-head in the Lowry article read, "the
entreneurial spirit is alive and well in the Lumbee Indian camp." That
might be so, bat the sub-headline should have read: "The entrepreneurial
ipirit is alive and well in the Lumbee Indian camp." It is, and Ms. Brayboy,
the editor, blames it all on a recalcitrant computer. Ummmmm.
by Bruce Barton
Local student conducts
for Bowman Gray Scho
Ronny A. Bell, a L urn bee Indian who's studying for a Ph.D. degree in
lutrihon at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has learned that
leople over eat for different reasons. Sometimes it stems from stress at work
* an emotional problem Or they may over eat because their friends or family
ncourage them to. And many times, the reasons overlap.
There are social, psychological, and biological reasons that make people
lat the way they do," said Bell in an interview. "For me, nutrition is a field that
ouches so many other disciplines."
Bell's latest nutrition research has taken him to the Bowman Gray School
>f Medicine of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. There he's assisting
he staff ofthe North American Cervical Cancer Prevention Project, a cancer
esearch team that is working to inform Lumbee women about the risk of
ervical cancer and the value of obtaining regular Pap smears
The project is funded by a five-year grant from the National Cancer
nstitute.
"I read a notice in the Greensboro paper about this project at Bowman Gray,"
aid Bell. "The word 'Lumbee' caught my eye. And then my department chair
at UNC-Greensboro) contacted Bowman Gray and asked about the possibility
>f me asMsting them as part of my Ph.D. studies.
"I had always wanted to do my Ph D work with the Lumbee people," Bell
ontinued. "For some reason, there's never been any research done on the
topical diet of the L urn bees You might assume that it's typically Southern:
igh fat and high sodium. But no scientific study has ever been don on the
I
Kelli Wallace crowned
Southern Sweetheart
Kellie Wallace of Lumberton \
recently won the Southern Sweet
heart National Pageant. She is the I
eleven year old daughter of Earl A |
Yvonne Wallace of Lumberton.
At the pageant directed by Ms.
Janet Hamm, Kelli competed in all
areas of competition Kelli won all
areas of competition where she won
fourteen trophies, six crowns includ
ing a bucket crown and 11,000
savings bond, and a S100 dollar sav
ings bond for talent. Kelli will rep
resent the beauty title as Young Miss
Southern Sweetheart National
Queen i
Kelli's sponsors for the pag- I
eant were Revels Funeral Home of
Pembroke, Mr and Mrs Juddie Rev- '
els, John L. Locklear's Nationwide
Insurance Co. of Lumberton, Mr. A
Mrs. John L.Locklear, Jr. and
Strickland's Paint A Wallpaper of
Lumberton, Mr. A Mrs. Robert L.
Strickland
Pembroke Mayor Miltoa R. Hunt
-Indian Housing Board meets
Monday night
The Borard of Commissioners of
the N.C. State Indian Housing Au
thority will meet Monday, July 27,
1992 at the Administrative Office of
the Housing Authority, located at
2200 Indian Creek Road,
Fayette ville, North Carolin at 7 p.m.
The meeting is open to the public.
Anyone desiring to be placed on the
agenda must make a written request
by July 24, 1992.
Send request to: Gregory A.
Richardson, Executive Director, P.O.
Box 2343, Fayetteville, NC 28302,
or call (919)483-5073 for additional
information.
M i
nutritional research
?ol of Medicine
Lumbee diet."
For this research, Bell has been interviewing Lumbee women over age 21
and over.
" I go into the community and recruit women to participate in the interview
process," explained Bell. "I recruit volunteers several different ways. Some
volunteers re people who have heard about the study and want to help. Some
are recruited by reaching them through random-digit phone calls. I also go into
the health clinics and talk to women to find out if they're eligible to
participate."
Bell said the interview takes about 45 minutes, and includes questions on
daily eating habits and health knowledge. He also asks participants to keep a
diary of the food they eat for three days.
"What's really important for us to know is how many calories Lumbee
women consume per day and the number of grams of fiat, vitamin consumption
and their daily intake of fiber," said Bell. "We will look at those areas because
of their possible relationship to cancer."
After his interviews are completed. Bell will compile his research data and
report his findings, which he hopes to have published in medical journals. Part
of his Ph D. degree program requires him to outline his findings at a seminar,
to be given at a later date in Robeson County.
Bell, the son of James F. "Buddy" and Sarah Bell ofPembroke, said that after
be earns his Ph D degree, he wants to teach nutrition at the university level.