MR. HUNT’S CHAIR

YOU CAN IMAGINE that over half a century ago, a college education looked much different than it does today. CVCC wasn’t yet known as Red Hawk Nation. We were Catawba Valley Technical Institute, a small, local institution with ample room to grow. And since the college opened its doors on April 3, 1958, we have seen decades’ worth of progress—the addition of academic programs, the transformation of the student experience—and the establishment of our first Student Government Association.

How do you define persistence?

Is it finding ways to accomplish something no matter what life throws at you? Is it pushing through tough circumstances? Is it taking chances time and time again, even when you’re unsure what lies on the other side?

Mr. Sam Hunt, a CVCC alum and long-time resident of Catawba County, has a history of showing these traits in many forms.

On November 17th, 1964, three years before enrolling at CVCC (then known as Catawba Valley Technical Institute, CVTI), Hunt learned he was drafted into the U.S. Army, meaning he was required to leave his home, travel across the country, and serve in various capacities, including Squad Leader, Assistant Platoon Guide, and even the News Reporter for Stars and Stripes.

His time in the service opened his eyes to what he could accomplish, even at a young age. Though he wasn’t sure where he would eventually call home, he and his wife settled back in the Catawba County area, and he enrolled in CVTI in 1967.

A week or two after starting college, Hunt decided to get familiar with campus, which included visiting the cafeteria during lunchtime. Though he was excited to make friends, he describes his first day at the CVTI cafeteria in one word: Disappointing.

As a black student, no one offered to share a table or find another chair. The rest of the week was the same; no spaces, no tables. And, on top of this, Hunt remembers he barely knew anyone that went to the college, and, rather than reaching out to him, these students would group together and stay amongst themselves. He doubted he’d ever find a chair of his own. Finally, one day, Hunt arrived early to the cafeteria, leaving enough time to spot an empty table full of empty chairs. He decided that this table was going to be his designated space.

However, his pocket of safety came at a cost. Each day after class, he had to make it to the cafeteria fast enough to claim his spot— otherwise the chairs would be filled and no one would leave room for him.

If asked about it, Hunt can remember this week quite vividly.

“Over the weekend,” he said, “I decided that I would run to the cafeteria as soon as my class was over. [The next] Monday, it worked. I ran and I got a chair in the middle of the cafeteria, and as the room continued to fill up, students would ask me for one of the empty chairs at the table but left me there alone.”

“I started to run there every day, only to end up giving my chairs away.”

It was a struggle, staying persistent enough to stick up for himself and having the dignity to give to others, no matter how their actions affected him.

But after a few weeks, students demanded things from the chair-table scenario and began to fight each other for the chairs. Fighting was the last thing Hunt wanted to happen; regardless, he also held in a deeper fear that these people would fight him directly.

“It had become a game,” he shared. “I decided not to give my chairs away anymore. You could sit at my table, but you could not take a chair away.”

Maintaining this rule indeed, a game; at one point, Hunt kept sharpened pencils around him, just in case he needed to defend himself in an unforeseen fight.

His anticipation grew higher the day he arrived late to the cafeteria, assuming that students would crowd around his spot and leave no room for his seat. However, when he arrived, he saw that his chairs and table were open and waiting from him.

He grabbed a plate and sat down by himself, just like any other afternoon.

“It was a day of standing room only, and I got my pencils ready because I thought, finally, it might happen,” he says. “I looked up, and five guys came to my table and almost surrounded me.”

Thankfully, though, Sam never had to use the sharp pencils.

He turned around and greeted them kindly, a bit of concern hidden in his smile. “Hello,” he said. “You cannot take a chair, but you can sit down.”

“Hello,” the students said. “We did come to sit with you.’”

“OK! Have a seat.” At that moment, Sam’s persistence finally paid off. He had no clue what to expect of these five strangers, but as the leader introduced Sam to each person, and Sam introduced himself, he began to feel that there was no danger.

“We’ve seen you around,” the students said. “You’re not the kind of person people assumed you were. And, look, President Paap came to us and asked that we form a Student Body Board. We’ve talked it over, and we want to be the first group to make a difference in this school in any kind of way we can.”

They further explained that they wanted to get to know him, and that if the conversation went well, they’d be interested to hear his thoughts about an opportunity which would help them and the student body as a whole.

“They were trying to organize the CVTI Student Body Board,” Hunt revealed. “They felt that there should be a black representative on the board, and because of my boldness, I might fit in.”

Many of the students were willing to take a gamble on making this work. And, they told Sam that if he were elected as one of the Student Body seniors, they would offer him the first Vice President position.

“I shared my personal info,” he recalled, “and I told them that I would talk it over with my wife, family members, and church friends.” the college community, Sam Hunt was very happy with his decision to participate.

Though he impressed the student leaders, Sam also caught the attention of President Robert E. Paap. The president, along with the head of the Nursing program at that time, asked Sam to become the first practical male nurse in their program. “I refused because I could not spell medical words,” he said. “I learned later that the nursing students could not, either.”

He may have skipped that opportunity, but there were other ways he stayed involved with campus life: He won 2nd place at the annual Christmas Dance; he organized and became secretary of the first Chess Club on campus; he organized what was, at the time, the largest student blood drive (and received a trophy for his work); he participated in the CVTI Student Government Christmas Parade Day. When he graduated in 1969 with a degree in Computer Programming, he received the Outstanding Student Award.

That’s exactly what he did. After serious thought and consideration, Hunt returned to those five students the next week with exciting news—he wanted to join the board. As promised, Hunt was elected as one of the seniors, and eventually appointed as the Vice President of the entire CVTI student body.

In addition to this accomplishment as the first black representative on the first college student board, the students also decided to elect a female as the first President. Since the CVTI student leadership now included two minority members who had a real chance to share their perspectives and greatly influence

Sam went on to have fulfilling careers in organizations like IBM and Synthetic Finishing. He retired in 2003, and continues to serve his local church, St. Paul AME Zion, as Adult Sunday school teacher and superintendent.

Thanks to Hunt’s persistence, service, and passion, Red Hawk Nation got a head-start in becoming the strong community we are today. Though it’s been fifty-four years since Mr. Hunt graduated from CVCC, he will always remain an integral part of the college story.

Notable Accolades

• 25 years as volunteer at Carolina Caring

• Recognized as NC/SC Hospice Volunteer of Year 2020

• Past President Hickory NAACP (through 2021)

• Current 2nd VP of NAACP

• Hickory Landmarks Society Secretary

• Hickory City Planning Commission Secretary

• Sunday School Superintendent, St. Paul AME Zion

• Member Hickory City History Preservation Committee

• Vietnam Era Veteran

To watch Mr. Hunt’s interview for the CVCC Black History Award click this link here.