Profiles - About Alumni for October 2008

Featured Alum: Dr. Eugene Hunt

Yavapai College Founding Father, 1968

We are celebrating the college’s 40th anniversary, so it seems most appropriate to honor a family with close ties to the college over three generations.

As one of the founding fathers of Yavapai College, we wish to recognize Dr. Eugene Hunt. Dr. Hunt was the third employee of the College and served as the head administrator in the business office. Back in those days, the President and he shared a secretary with offices in the 3rd floor of a bank building uptown. At that time, they were having classes in the Elks Theater, churches around town, in basements, and unused buildings.

Dr. Hunt was involved in the original paper work to buy part of the campus from the VA at Whipple, as well as buying the houses near the entrance to the campus. He arranged for the elections to float the bonds for the first four buildings plus the first dormitory. He established the accounting system and, with the President, provided the overseeing of the building plans and construction of those original buildings.

He also was involved in organizing the Yavapai College Foundation and was one of the original members. He went on to other things and a couple years later was given the job of Yavapai County School Superintendent. He saw that he could make a great difference in the county system and of course the rest is history. He and Barry Goldwater did some great things for education in Arizona. He served as Yavapai County School Superintendent fourteen years before he retired and moved to Desert Hot Springs, California.

His son, Walt Hunt (attended '73 to '75), also left his mark at Yavapai College in Student Government, as did his brother Gene Hunt who was student advisor for the vets. Walt got out of the service and came home to Yavapai in 1973. Later, Rita, (now Rita Leyva, Chief Deputy, Yavapai County Education Service Agency), his younger sister, served in Student Government too. At this time the Student Government made many changes and developed most of the student clubs and organization that are here now. It was their student government body that started that electronics department, the girl’s athletics, the swimming team, the Art department and its annual trip to the LA Art show etc.

They also worked on the original design and built the fountain area in the plaza, the walkways from the dorms, the initial landscaping all around the parking areas. While they were there, some serious strides for student campus life and security were accomplished. They developed the student employment programs to coincide with the development of the student union, and worked to move the cafeteria more towards a buffet-style service.

Dr. Eugene Hunt and his family most assuredly deserve a great deal of recognition for what they have done for the college!

(back to top)

Robert Koch, Yavapai College Founding Faculty, 1968

Sept. 1, 2008

Robert (Bob) Lawrence Koch passed into the arms of his Heavenly Father from his home in Prescott, Ariz., on Aug. 29, 2008. Robert was born in 1937 in Lebanon, Missouri, to Melville Luther Koch and Carolyn Louise Tinker.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn, of 42 years; son David; daughters Christy, Lisa, and Laura. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Bob received his Bachelor of Art from the University of Kansas, and Master of Arts from Northwestern University. Bob was a founding faculty member of Yavapai College, where he dedicated more than 30 years teaching drama, speech communications, theater productions and humanities. He retired in 1999.

He was an accomplished pianist, avid gun collector and enthusiast, lifetime member of the NRA, and an active member of Hope Lutheran Church. He was a dedicated husband and father who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.

A celebration a of his life and memory will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Hope Lutheran Church, 1010 North Road One East, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.

Please visit www.hamptonfuneralhome.com to sign his guestbook and leave a message for his family. Services entrusted to Hampton Funeral Home.

Information provided by the survivors.

(back to top)

Rae-Ann Harris (Guethle), General studies, 1971-73

Another family that attended Yavapai College is the Guethle family. We heard from Rae-Ann Harris (Guethle) who now lives in Arlington, Texas.

She writes: “I went on to become Registered Dental Hygienist. I worked as a hygienist on Saturdays and I worked for AT&T Monday through Friday. I retired from AT&T after 30 years of service December 4, 2007.

I was very shy in high school and missed out on a lot, so I became involved in college life. I was on the drill team both years and also served as student body secretary/treasurer. I loved Yavapai College because of being so involved in activities on the campus. Also I met my future husband Michael when he serenaded a group of girls at YC with his guitar.

My link to Yavapai now is my sister who is on the staff: Linda Hoffman. I am very proud of her. I also have a niece and nephew that graduated from YC: Nicole and Andrew Hoffman.”

Nicole Hoffman graduated from Yavapai College in December 2003. She went on to attend NAU and graduated in December 2006 with a double major: Public Relations and Advertising. She now works with NAU Television Services. Andrew Hoffman graduated with honors from Yavapai College in May 2008 and is currently attending NAU in the AJS Program. His goal is to graduate from NAU in 2.5 years and serve as a Police Officer in the State of Arizona.

Linda Hoffman shared that she and Rae Ann also have another sister, Darlene Evans (Guethle) who attended Prescott High School, then moved to Phoenix and graduated from Paradise Valley High School. Darlene graduated from the University of AZ with a BS in Nursing, and later taught with the Nursing Division at Yavapai College from mid 80’s to early 90’s. Darlene currently lives in Chino Valley.

(back to top)

Kisha Spellman-White, Basketball Player, 1993-96

(Excerpt from an article as published in the Daily Courier, Sept. 6, 2008.)

Owner of the ARIZONA RHINOS, Kisha Spellman-White, right, a former player at Yavapai College (1993-96), and head coach Orlando Woolridge met members of the media on Friday at Tim’s Toyota Center.

The Arizona Rhinos are in town for their first-ever season. It’s never an easy assignment to be the new team in a minor league. The modern ABA debuted in 1999, sporting the same familiar red, white and blue ball of its older – non-affiliated – brethren of the 70s.

It’s not the days of Julius Erving and George Gervin. The ABA, in fact, is much more of an extended basketball community than a traditional sports league. The Rhinos are one of 51 in a league whose teams range from the New York City Nationals to the Philadelphia Sounds.

(back to top)