I started off my interview with the typical “where were you born?” Upon which he answered “White Horse, Yukon Territory.” Ah... a third analogy to the poem. Now I’d heard of the city Yellow Knife in the Yukon and knew from my geography as a youngster that it was about the only form of life that a world globe exhibited as a city in the vast expanse of Canada’s frigid northern wilderness, but “White Horse” elude me. I commented that it sounded like that was in the middle of nowhere. Hunter was quick to correct me, that it was “100 miles north of nowhere”. Actually, after checking it out it’s way north of Juneau, Alaska! While in first grade, yes they actually had a school, a show and tell led one of the young girls to speak about her judo training and wear her uniform. Mind you this was nearly 50 years ago in an isolated remote scarcely populated corner of the earth and the young Hunter decided he wanted to train in the martial arts? The martial arts however, for his neck of the woods didn’t really exist.

Hunter began to thaw out moving southward from White Horse to Vernon, Canada (another place still void on the map), but his martial arts dreams of training at a school still couldn’t be realized. Migrating even further south at 12 years old to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (still sounds cold to me) must have seemed like an oven compared to White Horse where Hunter finally found a karate school to attend. Hunter’s long history of sport karate competition started at that age when he convinced his mother to drive him across what must have seemed like the equator... into the US to Brementon, Washington for the rarity of a karate tournament. Now remember this was 1970 and in those days there was just one division for junior fighting, explained Hunter; “Under blackbelt of all ranks and all ages”. As a 12 year old white belt, Hunter got paired with a 15 year old blue belt. Hunter said he “got the crap beat out of him”. Actually he phrased it with a different word than crap as he related the painful bare knuckle details of 20 seconds worth of excruciating pain and bruises ending in a 3 to 0 score.

Like the paradoxical “Karate Kid”, undeterred, Hunter continued his Shotokan Karate studies. Twelve years later he took over his instructor’s school which insured his longevity in martial arts. He continued his pursuit of competition earning a name as a fighter in his local region. It wasn’t until 1990 when the Tiger Balm Internationals brought NBL to Vancouver that Hunter realized the big picture and sought the higher status of world class competition. He attended his first Super Grands in 1993 in New Orleans and while no wins were had he claims that the event was the inspiration for the success that followed. As Hunter is a good friend of mine, I jested with him as to what success?... he didn’t win a title for 12 more years! Where upon he reminded me I exaggerate, that it was only eleven! Hunter has been a fixture at Super Grands, year after year. I remember him telling me however that he refused to give up. Anyhow, 2004 Super Grands, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, twelve... oops ... eleven years of losing came to a screeching halt. On the Grand Finale stage under the famed spotlights on the final buzzer Hunter claimed a one point victory over Ronald George to lay claim to the senior heavyweight point sparring world title. This must have been the boost needed as later in the evening in the 45 & over division, underdog Hunter, who had one loss to Foot Hairston in the eliminations, came back to narrowly top him twice in the Finale and win that title as well.

I remember teasing Hunter telling him he’d better quit while he was ahead, that this was only a fluke. But he paid no attention returning in 2006 and proving that he was now the one to beat, conquering both titles once again. While 2006 gave him stage presence once more, he came up dry for a title. But he bounced back convincingly this past Super Grands, entering only in his seeded 45 & over division, he again took gold topping Ronnie Ferguson for the world title in the heavyweight category.

Hunter is claiming retirement this year as he is moving his College Club School into a commercial establishment and wants to devote time to secure a successful business venture. But he promised not to count him out saying he’ll take on all comers at the Pacific Jewel Nationals and may still show for the World Games since they are in nearby California this year.

Despite retirement or not, Hunter can be counted on for the northwest’s continued membership in NBL. His present Northwestern attributes include helping create the West Coast Warrior Team, securing NBL tournaments and encouraging NBL involvement, and Hunter now promises a goal that his students will continue the quest of gold under his tutelage.

Unlike Sam McGee in the poem, Hunter doesn’t get cremated, but he says he has come close to death fighting polar bears that he takes on for lack of sparring partners. Yeah... ok Bill.