Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2009
- Class:
- 1938
One of Cam Henderson's first acts after taking the job as Marshall's head coach in 1935 was to sign an undersized halfback who had spent most of his prep career as a blocker. Dick Hunter, at barely 150 pounds, was a member of Huntington High School's undefeated 1934 state champion Pony Express, a team declared the winner of the mythical state championship, where his main job was blocking for all-state quarterback Tommy Coleman. Something caught Henderson's eye, however, and Hunter became a member of the Thundering Herd, where he turned into one of the top big-play threats in school history.
In an era when freshmen were ineligible for varsity competition, Hunter spent his first season practicing against the Marshall veterans and by eating, as he "bulked up" to a college playing weight of 162 pounds. He scored a pair of touchdowns against Morris Harvey in his college debut in the 1936 season opener and went on to lead the team with 13 touchdowns that season - 10 rushing and one each on a pass reception, an interception return and a kickoff return, and he received all-Buckeye Conference honors.
Injuries greatly cut Hunter's playing time during Marshall's 9-0-1 campaign and Buckeye Conference title in 1937, but he was back on the field at full speed for his senior year, when he helped the Herd get off to a strong start with an 85-yard touchdown run in the opening win over Carson-Newman College. For his career, Hunter had numerous plays that covered more than 50 yards and was also known for his downfield blocking to spring teammates on several more long runs and for his big hits from the defensive secondary, despite his lack of size.
Hunter suited up as a member of the Marshall baseball team as well. He was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
