Samuel W. Hunt

While not an alumnus of North Central College, Samuel W. Hunt, Jr. adopted the College as if it were his own. As a dedicated advocate for education, Mr. Hunt joined the North Central College Board of Trustees in 1974 and became a Life Trustee in 2004. A banking executive with legal training, Mr. Hunt shared his considerable expertise in charitable giving and estate planning, and helped shape a vision for long-term financial support and stability for the College. He was also instrumental in helping North Central receive funds for the Richter Fellowships, which made a significant impact on undergraduate student travel and research, enriching their educational experience.

Born and raised in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Mr. Hunt received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degrees from Southern Methodist University.

He was a member of the State Bar of Illinois and Texas and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He was a graduate of the Executive Program of the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Mr. Hunt began his trust banking career at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago in January 1958. When retired in 1987, he was Senior Vice President of the Bank’s personal trust department and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Continental Illinois Trust Company of Florida N.A. Immediately upon retirement, Mr. Hunt joined Northern Trust, California N.A., as Chief Fiduciary Officer.

He retired in 2000, and thereafter served as Fiduciary Consultant for Northern Trust until he retired three years later. Mr. Hunt was a past member of the Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Foundation and Illinois Masonic Hospital. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena Historical Museum, and the Board of Governors of Goodwill Industries of Southern California.

He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Union League Club of Chicago and the Jonathan Club of Los Angeles. He was a member of the LA5 Rotary Club of Los Angeles, the Lawyers Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation.

Mr. Hunt served as Chairman of the Board of Performing Tree, Inc., a Los Angeles civic organization educating children through the arts and the Jonathan Club Art Foundation. Mr. Hunt was past president of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Corporate Fiduciaries Association of Illinois, and former Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee. He served as an officer and board member of the Florence G. Heller Foundation and was on the Planned Giving Advisory Council of the Art Institute of Chicago.