The late Joe Hunt put together an outstanding record as a head football coach in western North Carolina. Born in Wilkes County, Hunt graduated from the old North Wilkesboro High School in 1942. Then after World War II, Joe graduated from Western Carolina in 1950 and then embarked on a highly successful career in coaching, first at Sylva-Webster High and then at Hendersonville. His football teams at Sylva-Webster posted records of 87-43-6 and earned four conference titles, and then while at Hendersonville from 1964 through '78 his teams went 118-40-2 and won five league crowns. He also coached twice in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Hunt served a pair of four-year terms on the NCHSAA Board of Directors and received a Distinguished Service Award from the NCHSAA in 1986. He is a charter member of the Hendersonville High School Hall of Fame.