By Anne Riker Garlington
Have you ever met someone so intriguing that their depth of knowledge compels you to sit, listen and learn? Oak Hammock resident Roy Hunt is one such person, endlessly fascinated by all aspects of life. A passionate supporter of the arts, culture and historic preservation, Hunt also enjoys gardening, travel, literature, architecture, opera, art, law and the continued pursuit of knowledge.
Hunt has lived at Oak Hammock since 2016. He has a perspective that comes with age. His enthusiasm for learning is infectious, and whenever interviewed, he always has a book to recommend. As a consummate academic, when he becomes intrigued by and researches a topic, he wants others to share in his discovery. With his southern drawl and absorbed focus on the topic at hand, Hunt does just this with a listener.
Some people inspire you to seek out new experiences – knowledge of remarkable things and places. Hunt is one of those rare individuals whose life has had a tremendous purpose and a positive change with aspect to the preservation of Florida history. Seated in his Oak Hammock apartment, filled with his books, antiques and objets d’art collected from his many travels, Hunt is the epitome of a southern gentleman.
It’s no wonder his lectures through the Institute for Learning in Retirement, or ILR, are always packed. His ability to explain complex topics is impressive, effortlessly connecting ideas until everything eventually makes sense.
Much has been written about Hunt and his many accolades in historic preservation. This article, however, is about the man whose life and hard work has been dedicated to making a difference. His true purpose as a scholar and an activist has had a significant impact on our community. The world is simply a better place because of Roy Hunt.
Hunt’s story begins in the rural community of Humboldt, Tennessee. A valedictorian at Columbia Military Academy, he graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University, served three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy, pursued international legal studies at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall and received a master’s in law from Yale University.
Although teaching wasn’t his original plan, he soon discovered it was his true calling. Now a professor emeritus, Hunt taught for 36 years at the University of Florida College of Law, where he also served twice as interim dean.
His expertise in historic preservation is unparalleled. He played a pivotal role in drafting preservation ordinances for San Antonio, Texas, Natchez, Mississippi and Apalachicola, Florida. Starting in 1976, he developed a specialty in historic preservation law at UF, inspired by his lifelong interest in history and architecture, a passion and dedication sparked by his family’s appreciation for “old things.”
Hunt served on the National Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Advisors and the National Historic Landmarks Committee, led the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation as its president and was appointed by Florida Governors Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles to the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board. In 1988, he edited and co-authored the book Historic Preservation in Florida.
Hunt’s love for travel was ignited by his time as a naval officer. Since then, he has traveled extensively, teaching in locations such as Seoul, South Korea; Cambridge, England; Mexico City, Mexico; Konstanz, Germany; Jakarta, Indonesia; and San Antonio, Texas. He has visited all seven continents, well over 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
His connection to Oak Hammock runs deep. He served on the Oak Hammock Board of Directors for ten years and his sister and mother were residents. When asked why he chose to live at Oak Hammock, Hunt simply said, “I already had many friends here, but more importantly, a move here is the greatest gift you can give children and grandchildren.”
Hunt especially enjoys Oak Hammock’s intellectual environment, citing the Institute for Learning in Retirement, or ILR, as his favorite. “You get to take courses without the exams or teach them without grading,” he joked.
Over the years, Hunt has taught ILR courses on topics ranging from garden history to architecture. He has also facilitated numerous courses and serves on the ILR curriculum committee. When selecting course topics, Hunt seeks out esoteric subjects he hopes his audiences will find interesting, perhaps illuminating.
What’s next for Hunt? He’s studying German, building on his college studies in French, Russian and Spanish. He’s also completed a manuscript describing 65 years of travels in the middle east and is working on a second book drawing upon his copious travel journals.
Asked for advice to prospective Oak Hammock residents, Hunt suggests, “To fully enjoy all that Oak Hammock has to offer, make the move sooner rather than later.”