Duane Hunt

(From Parker Mortuary)

Duane Lee Hunt of Webb City made his final exit from the stage on December 8, 2022. Duane (De to his friends) was born in Joplin, MO on October 1, 1938 to Orville C. and Bobby Ellis Hunt. 

He is survived by the love of his life, Gwen Theis Hunt, whom he married on November 27, 1964, and his beloved god-daughter Leslie Ballew of Springfield. He was part of a large extended family descended from early Joplin settler Levi Wesley Hunt.

De’s life was devoted to the theatre, a love which began in grade school. By the time he was in Joplin High School, he had been on the stage many times and received the first Bob Cummings Award given in his senior year, 1956. 

He continued his theatre education at Joplin Junior College under the tutelage of Milton Brietzke; then at Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State) studying with the renowned teacher Dr. Leslie Irene Coger. He collaborated with her in adapting Ray Bradbury’s novel Dandelion Wine for a Reader’s Theatre production, which premiered at the national convention of the Speech Association of America in 1960. 

The work was subsequently published in 1965 in the Reader’s Theatre Handbook, used nationwide in high school and college theatre programs. He was selected to perform the title role in Finian’s Rainbow which was chosen to tour army bases in Germany and France in 1961under the auspices of the American Educational Theatre Association and the USO.

After receiving his Master of Arts degree in theatre from University of Arkansas in 1963, he returned to Joplin Junior College to begin his 37-year career teaching, mentoring, and befriending hundreds of students. That career spanned the evolution of JJC into the four-year institution it became, with the move to a new campus, the creation of the Barn Theatre, the building of Taylor Performing Arts Center and the addition of the “black box” theatre. He directed over 75 plays ranging from Greek tragedy to modern musical comedy. 

He was instrumental in developing the children’s theatre program which toured plays to area schools and eventually were performed on campus playing to thousands of children over the years. For that program he wrote and staged five original plays. He developed the course for Theatre Appreciation, a part of the fine arts component of the general education requirements. In 1977 he toured with MSSU’s production of Finian’s Rainbow, entertaining troops in Greenland and Iceland.

Always a student himself, De and his wife Gwen would go to professional theatre at every opportunity, making annual trips to New York City to see the best actors and directors at work. A consummate actor, he performed over 120 roles in university, community and professional theatre.

He and Gwen often performed together, creating special programs for various community organizations.

In addition to his theatre work, De served on numerous academic committees regarding development of the four-year college curriculum, academic policies, and other institutional business. He retired in 2000 with the honor of Professor Emeritus.

Following his retirement, De continued to travel to professional theatre and classical and other music performances and to enjoy a new passion in small ship cruises to study wildlife, indigenous cultures and natural wonders. He also continued to write and had completed a manuscript of stories from his childhood and youth which he had intended to publish.

Duane Hunt will be remembered for his kind and generous spirit, his razor sharp wit, and his care and guidance of his students. He requested that his ashes be scattered over the hills outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, a city he visited often for many years to enjoy the art, climate and especially the famous northern New Mexico cuisine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Running Strong for American Indian Youth or the Springfield Contemporary Theatre in care of Parker Mortuary. A celebration of life will be held after the first of the new year.