Dwight Hunter

Dwight K Hunter, born on June 25, 1941, in Caldwell, ID, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, UT.

The simple yet profound experiences of farm life shaped Dwight's early years. From a tender age, he learned the values of hard work and determination, often seen feeding calves, milking cows, and doing jobs he later realized his parents probably invented to tire him and his brothers out.

An avid athlete, Dwight lettered in football, basketball, and baseball and dabbled in track and field and cross country. He also loved to sing and play the guitar. In the 1950s, Dwight formed a singing group called the Hunter's IV in Corvallis, OR. The group got their big break when they got booked to perform intermissions for the Buck Owens show. That gig led to a recording contract, where Hunters IV recorded two singles--"I Treated You Cruel" and "I'm Gonna Love You," both written by Dwight. Their A-side single received airplay and chart action in the northwest and some spins in Los Angeles before DJs told the group they had to pay to keep their song on the air--an illegal practice later exposed and dubbed "The Payola Scandal."

Disenchanted with the music industry, Dwight decided to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He got called to serve in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia and was instrumental in opening Puerto Rico for missionary work in 1964.

Dwight's academic journey led him to Portland State University, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and, years later, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Professionally, he began his career at the Portland Metropolitan Study Commission, where he worked in research for two years. He then joined the Columbia Region Association of Governments, contributing for six years in research, planning, and management roles. Later, Dwight moved to the San Francisco Bay area and worked at the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International), taking on roles as a researcher, project manager, and department manager. In 1979, he founded Hunter Research, Inc., primarily focusing on system design, installation, and support for police departments, district attorneys, courts, public defenders, and probation departments.

Dwight married Carole Louise May of Portland, Oregon, and together they had seven children: Darren (Veronica), Shelley, Shannon (Ray), Lane (Kurt), Brandon (Megan), Paige (Andrew), and Brooke (Jason) plus 20 grandchildren and 3 (soon to be 5) great-grandchildren. After his marriage with Carole ended, Dwight married Tammy Marie Vahlberg, with whom he had twin girls, Rachael and Catherine (Josh), and twin boys, David (Emily) and Allan (Allie), plus one grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rosel Hyrum Hunter and Hazel Marie Johnson, sisters Jolene Mock, Ellen Bingham, Belva Burgess, and brother John Gordon Hunter. He is survived by his brothers Rosel Deanne Hunter, Marcial Hunter, and sister LaNorWilhelms.

Dwight leaves a legacy of hard work, a competitive spirit, musicality, and a never-ending sense of humor.

He will be missed.

The family will hold a private virtual memorial service on February 4 at 6 PM MST.