Harold (Hal) Theo Hunter, 82, Denver, North Carolina, passed away after a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Eileen GaIl, of Canonsburg, PA. and children, Heidi Hunter Foote (Mark), Heather Hunter Warren (Jack) and Hal T. Hunter III (Tracy). He is also survived by three grandsons, James O’Rourke, LTGJ Hal T. Hunter IV, and Andrew Hunter.
He achieved the Eagle Scout designation while in high school. He put together an outstanding career in football and wrestling at the University of Pittsburgh. This was followed by a 23 year college football coaching career including Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA, Richmond, West Virginia, Maryland, Duke, Kentucky and Indiana. From 1977 to 1980, he was the head football coach and assistant athletic director at California State University of Pennsylvania. Hunter's 21 years in the NFL career began as offensive line coach for the Baltimore-Indianapolis Colts in 1984, where he was interim head coach in 1985. He was an offensive line coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1985 to 1988, and with the Cleveland Browns from 1989-1992, where he was nominated for Offensive Line Coach of the Year in 1989. From 1994 until his retirement in 2005, he was a pro football scout, first for the San Francisco Forty Niners, and then for the Carolina Panthers where he was also Personnel Coordinator. He was enshrined in the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame as both a coach and a player.
Memorial service to be held Saturday, August 30th at Unity Presbyterian Church in Denver, North Carolina.
