Rocketry Planet

LAYTON, Utah USA - Charles Franklin Hunt, one of the founding members of the Utah Rocket Club, died peacefully while being surrounded by his family at the Ogden Regional Hospital on September 4, 2010 after battling lung cancer.

SLIDESHOW: Frank Hunt, pictured here on the right, made a lasting impression on Utah's hobby rocketry scene, was one of the more colorful participants.

Known to all the UROC club members as "Frank", Hunt was born April 8th, 1932 in Artesia, New Mexico to parents Benjamin Franklin Hunt and Ina Mae Williams. The family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas when Frank was just a young bow.

After graduating from Midwestern University, he received a commission in the ROTC Program and served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years, including three tours in Europe, two tours in Vietnam and was based in several states in the southwestern portion of the United States.

Not only did Hunt help found UROC, he also served as the club's NAR advisor the entire time.

"Frank was one of a kind - there will be no one to replace him," said Matt Steele. "I think I met him in 1985 or so - it seems like he has always been part of the Utah rocketry scene. The club owes him a great deal, he was one of the UROC founders, and he arranged for the BLM lease that became the Pony Express Test Range. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. He will be missed. I would like to pass my sympathies on to Dot and the entire Hunt clan."

Dot is Hunt's surviving wife, born as Dorothy MacDonald, a young lady Hunt met while stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany. The two were married on June 24, 1958 and enjoyed 52 years together. The couple have two sons, David of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gregory of Manteca, California, who gave the couple seven grandchildren.

During his life in Utah, in addition to building and flying rockets, Hunt enjoyed flying remote-control airplanes. Other passions included his all-terrain vehicle, snowmobiling, travelling and spending time at Bear Lake.  Hunt certified many of Utah's high power rocket fliers.

"This is a great loss to all of us," Bob Morstadt said. "I don't think that we can ever re-pay the dedication that Frank had to the club. He really made the club a fun place to be! I got my Level 2 with Frank. He monitored my work, gave me the written test, and signed off the on the NAR paper work. Typical of Frank's dedication to people."

A celebration of Hunt's life service was held on Saturday, September 25 at 2:00 PM at Kaysville's Lindquist Mortuary, located at 400 North Main Street, Kaysville, Utah 84037. The family has asked that interested parties to please send donations to the Utah Cancer Society.

Frank Hunt was 78 years old.