Class of 1974
Edward Woodrow Hunt was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1942. In 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and his first post was in Texas. He was trained as an instrument-rated pilot. Ed was later relocated to Castle Air Force Base, and then Travis Air Force Base. Once he was discharged, he moved to Monterey on the California coast. There he attended Monterey Peninsula College. Ed came to Fresno State to complete his undergraduate degree in Business Administration. While here, he got himself a job working full time for the county as an assessor in the real property division. His next move was to enroll in SJCL as a member of its first ever class. He continued his full-time assessor job throughout law school. Upon graduating in 1974, Ed passed the bar exam and began his legal career with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. He worked as a Deputy DA for the next four years, leaving briefly to try private practice with the law firm Hunt, Gash, Hinckley, Suhr, Putnam, and Morris. He returned to the DA’s office before the year was up.
During this time, the crime rate in Fresno was at an all-time high. Ed fought to protect Fresno residents by ramping up efforts against gangs and drugs. He played a role in passing the Three Strikes law. Ed was instrumental in forming the Narcotics Task Force and developed strong and lasting relationships with local law enforcement agencies. In 1982 he ran for Fresno County District Attorney, and won! Known for his “down-home” and “folksy” personality, Ed went on to serve as Fresno County’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer for five terms and a total of 20 years – longer than any District Attorney in Fresno’s history.
Throughout his tenure, Ed remained committed to reducing crime. He directed a war on crime that involved the establishment of specialty prosecution teams, like the nationally recognized gang unit – the Multi Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium or MAGEC – that is still in operation today. In 1996, then-Sheriff Steve Magarian held a meeting that included Ed, all Fresno County police chiefs, supervising agents from the CHP, the Bureau of Narcotics, FBI, DEA, IRS, State Parole, Probation supervisors, Department of Corrections and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The coming together of these 30 agencies formed the cooperative MAGEC. The organization was recognized and honored by then California Governor Pete Wilson. It became the largest long-term consolidation in law enforcement history and has had a major impact on gangs ever since.
Ed’s undying commitment to public service was credited with shaping many careers in law. His colleagues described him as tough…but also compassionate. Career prosecutors and judges knew him to be straightforward and honest, and he was held in esteem in the legal community.
Upon his retirement, Ed continued to handle cases as a defense attorney, often in federal court. He was an avid pilot and enjoyed flying on trips across the country in his M-35 Bonanza with his wife Linda, of 32 years.
When asked about his career upon retiring, Ed said, “I can tell you that this has been one Hell of a ride. I’ve enjoyed it, most of the time. But sometimes, I would rather be fishing.”