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Julian Perry Hunnicutt, Jr. passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, the 15th of March 2017, in Houston. He was 89.
He was born on the 15th of June 1927, in Bay City, Texas, the only child to father Julian Perry Hunnicutt and mother Theo Monihan Hunnicutt. In 1944, Perry graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston where he was both President and Valedictorian of his class.
He entered Texas A&M University as a freshman but soon after received an appointment from Congressman Albert Thomas to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
After graduating from the Academy in 1949, he served in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant until changing branch of service to attend flight school at Randolph Air Force Base San Antonio, Texas. After gunnery school at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, he went overseas to fly P- 51s out of Kimpo Airfield Seoul, South Korea. He flew the P-51s for the majority of his time in Korea before his squadron became one of the first to receive the new F-86D Super Saber Jets, a step he considered backwards from his P-51. He believed that the added speed of the jet did not outweigh the maneuverability of his beloved P-51. Perry received the Air Medal, the Bronze Star with oak leaf clusters and numerous other commendations for his service in Korea. When his tour was over, Captain Hunnicutt returned to the United States where he began teaching new pilots how to fly the F-86D.
Perry's mother, Theo, was the Dean of Women at the University of Houston. She arranged a blind date where he was introduced to the love of his life and the lady who would become his life partner of 64 years, Jennette Mary Jackson. The two were engaged on Valentine's Day and married in June of 1953.
After leaving the service Perry, Jennette and their new born son, Hap, moved to College Station where Perry earned his Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. He then entered his professional life as an engineer for Dow Chemical in Lake Jackson, Texas. Daughter, Jenny, was born while they lived in Lake Jackson. They moved backed to Houston when Perry took a job as a project engineer for the Texas Highway Department. He oversaw the construction of the four bridges over the Southwest Freeway which were recently torn down. That troubled him, because he said, "An engineer should never outlast one of his bridges!"
He left engineering and got in the real estate business in the early 1960's and became a fixture in the apartment industry for years to come. He and Jennette were some of the founders of the Houston Apartment Association and Perry was instrumental in founding the Texas Apartment Association where he served as the second President. He and his family ultimately built, owned and managed apartments in Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, and Galveston County. One special property, Post Oak Hills, served Houstonians for over fifty years as the place to live.
One of Perry's great loves were his cattle ranches in Brazoria and Colorado Counties where he spent most of his weekends when possible. Weimar, Texas and the people of Weimar were very special to him. Perry also greatly appreciated and loved the men who helped run the ranches, Manuel Guerrero, Manuel Mendoza, Miguel Sanchez and Francisco Sanchez.
Mr. Hunnicutt is survived by his wife Jennette Mary Jackson Hunnicutt; son, Julian Perry "Hap" Hunnicutt III, daughter Jennette Mary "Jenny" Hunnicutt; grandson, Timothy Hunnicutt Streller; brother in law, Clifford Jackson and his wife Teddy; nephew, Lester Housh Jackson, and nieces Janine Elizabeth Jackson and Eve Jackson Getz.
Honored to serve as casket bearers during the services are Robert L. Dabney, George B. Allen, Jr., Robert Johnston, Myron G. Blalock III, Jim J. Janke, Lance Christopher Kassab, Paul Ache, Jerry Herrington, Jay Robert Kennedy and Quentin Reid Swift. Serving as honorary bearers are Manuel Guerrero, Manuel Mendoza, John Jamail, Benny Fry and Robert Roth.
Friends are cordially invited to share memories of Perry during a memorial reception to be held from five o'clock this afternoon until seven o'clock this evening, Sunday, the 19th of March, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering drive in Houston.
A memorial service and celebration of his life is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 20th of March, at Chapel wood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street in Houston, where the Rev. Jim Jackson will officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund; Attn: Jamie Voskamp; PO Box 20070; Houston, Texas 77225.
All who knew Perry will remember him as a sweet and kind man of immense integrity, intelligence and patriotism.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors.
4 Entries
March 25, 2017
Terri Fontenot
Jeannette,
I was so sorry to hear of Perry's death. What a special husband and father he was! Teddi has told me about his beautiful service. I wish I could have been there. Please know that I am keeping you and your family in my prayers.
With love and sympathy, Terri Fontenot (Teddi's sister)
March 19, 2017
Manuel Guerrero
Mr hunnicut was a person to admire since 1978 I had the honor of meeting him and serving him for 35 years and over time he became a father to me because he was very kind, charitable, intelligent. When my son died he and his wife Jeanette Hunnicut gave me all their unconditional support they behaved like parents for my daughters and for me and it hurts the heart to know that it is no longer with us and not being able to be near him with him and His beautiful family was a very special person for our family is a loss irreparable we will miss him all his life was part of our family was like a father to us God has it in his holy glory. Our most sincere condolences hunnicut family Miss jeanette Hunnicutt, Janette Maria Hunnicutt, Julian Perry Hap, Timmy and the whole Hunnicutt family.
With sinceres
Manuel Guerrero, Ana Rosa Guerrero and Yessica Guadalupe Alvarado Guerrero.
March 19, 2017
Walter Eeds
My very best wishes to the Hunnicutt family. I only met Perry a few times but it was immediately apparent that he was a true Texas gentleman and a great American. He leaves big shoes behind to fill. Giants like Perry don't come around often. It was my privilege to have done some business with his family as well as become good friends with Hap and Jeanette.
With Sincere Sympathy,
Walter and Prissy Eeds
March 16, 2017
May God's loving kindness and comfort help you and your family through this very sad time Psalms 29:11
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Funeral services provided by:
Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors1010 Bering Drive, Houston, TX 77057
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