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SMA Board Renames the SMA Sustained Outstanding Service Award in Honor of Jerry Hunt
In recognition of the late James G. (Jerry) Hunt’s immense contributions to SMA, the SMA Board voted unanimously at the 2008 Annual Officers Meeting to rename the SMA Sustained Outstanding Service Award in memory of Jerry Hunt. From hereon, the official title of the award will be the James G. (Jerry) Hunt SMA Sustained Outstanding Service Award. While that title is certainly a mouthful, we suspect that the award will fittingly be known as the “Hunt Award” from now on. Given the quality and quantity of Jerry’s contributions to the field of management in general and SMA in particular, we know that future recipients will be humbled to receive an award that bears his name.
Jerry was an internationally recognized scholar who worked tirelessly with his colleagues to advance the study of management, and leadership in particular, by conducting groundbreaking research, organizing high profile scholarly conferences, and actively promoting the development of effective leaders. Jerry was a Paul Whitfield Horn Emeritus Professor and founding Director of the Institute for Leadership Research at Texas Tech University. A former editor of the Journal of Management and The Leadership Quarterly, Jerry served as the author or editor for over 200 book and journal publications. He was a former President of the Midwest Academy of Management and an Academy of Management Fellow. He received the Academy of Management Distinguished Service Award in 1991, having served on the Academy of Management board and Chair of the Organizational Division. In 1991 Texas Tech University presented him with the Barney E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award.
In 2003 Jerry was awarded the Inaugural SMA Sustained Outstanding Service Award in recognition of his unprecedented contributions to SMA. These contributions included serving in the roles of President (1988-1989), President-Elect (1988-1989), Vice-President/Program Chair (1986-1987), JOM Editor (1983-1986), chair and member of assorted SMA committees, presenter, session chair, reviewer and discussant. He was elected as an SMA Fellow in 1990, and served as the Dean of SMA Fellows from 1990 to 1998. Beyond his substantial contributions in these formal roles, Jerry made enormous informal contributions by serving as an enthusiastic mentor, coach, and supportive colleague to SMA members. His presence at SMA meetings was ubiquitous. From session to session and reception to reception, he could be seen in his cowboy boots and Texas Tech belt buckle telling Texas jokes and giving the “guns up!” salute.
Jerry, 76, passed away on July 22, 2008, succumbing to emphysema caused by a rare, life-long, genetic enzyme deficiency. He lived many years beyond his life expectancy. We have all been touched in one way or another by Jerry’s many and diverse contributions to the field of management. Some of us had the good fortune to work directly with Jerry where we benefited from his selfless devotion to the many roles he so ably filled as a scholar, author, mentor, teacher, editor, reviewer, conference organizer, facilitator, discussant, entrepreneur, administrator, colleague and friend. For others, his influence may be less direct but still significant as he shaped our thinking about management and leadership through his extensive writing, editorial guidance, and service. We are indebted to him for being a pioneer of new approaches for thinking about, studying, and practicing leadership. As a leader of management scholars, Jerry’s influence extends well beyond academia and present times as we share his insights and wisdom with current and future generations of managers and leaders. He was truly one of a kind and he will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
Bill Gardner
Director, Institute for Leadership Research
Texas Tech University
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