GREGORY LEE HUNTER, 54, went to be with his Lord on
June 18, 2004, with burial at Moore Memorial Gardens in
Arlington, TX
Gregory Lee Hunter was born Oct. 1, 1949, in New York City.
He moved to Texas from Brooklyn, NY, in 1968 to first play
basketball at Ranger Jr. College. He then played basketball
for the University of Texas at Arlington from 1970 to 1972.
He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 1974 with a
degree in criminal justice.
Greg joined the Grand Prairie Police Department in 1973 as
the first black sworn police officer hired. He took a brief
hiatus in 1981 & returned to law enforcement with the Grand
Prairie Police Department in 1983.
He served with the department a total of 29 years and nine
months. Greg believed that police work is not just a job but
an honorable calling.
Greg's professionalism, loyalty and dedication to his work
earned him many performance awards, including 1973 Rookie
of the Year, 1986 Lions Club Outstanding Policeman of the
Year, 1986 Lions Club Outstanding Patrol Officer of the Year,
1997 Grand Prairie Police Association Support Officer of the
Year, September 2001 Grand Prairie Police Department Respect
Baton & January 2003 Grand Prairie Police Department Respect
Baton.
Greg's service awards included the Educational Achievement
Award, Meritorious Conduct Award, Field Training Officer
Award, Police Instructor License Award, 20-year Service
Award, Lifesaving Award, Master Peace Officer Award, United
States flag and over 30 meritorious commendations.
Greg was promoted to the position of sergeant in March 1999.
Greg loved the sport of basketball and in past years played
in many of Dallas' Hoop It Up Tournaments with some of his
closest friends, winning several championship titles.
Most of all, Greg cherished his family. Greg's marriage was
very blessed and was enriched with love and happiness each
and every day. His joy was spending quality time with his
daughter and talking to her about fulfilling her honor to
the Lord and to always praise Him.
He so often would take her to play basketball with him and
challenge her to a game. Greg loved and cherished all his
children very much. Greg was a very loving and dedicated
husband and father, dear brother and friend to many.
Greg was a humble, spiritual and honorable man in every
way. Words cannot say enough about how Greg blessed so
many lives.
Greg was truly an example of what a man, a husband, a
father & a loyal friend should be. Greg is most remembered
for his smile, his laugh, his happiness, his positive
nature, his kindness and his sincere love for his Lord.
Greg's legacy teaches that all of humanity, good or bad,
should love one another and to always give praise to our
Lord. His greatest honor was serving his Lord, where his
abiding commitment was to always please the Lord and walk
in His ways.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and
he shall direct thy paths."--Proverbs 3:5-6.
Greg was preceded in death by his grandmother, O.C. Williams;
grandfather, C.G. Williams; mother-in-law, Masako Matsumoto
Land; and nieces, Amy and Bree Land.
Survivors at the time of his death: Loving and devoted wife,
Denise; daughter, Erin Hunter of Arlington; daughter, Lindsay
Hunter of Muskogee, OK; daughter, Kimberly Hunter of
Muskogee, OK; son, Greg A. Hunter of Okay, OK; grandson,
Kodiak Hunter of Okay, OK; mother, Dorothy Hunter of
Orlando, FL; sister, Edwina Alston and husband, Greg of
Bellevue, Wash.; sister-in-law, Janettte Barnard of San
Antonio; brother-in-law, Tommy Land and wife, Maureen of
Arlington; sister-in-law, Diane Hohertz and husband, Mike
of Grand Prairie; former wife, Pat Hunter of Muskogee,
Okla.; nephews, Garrett, Cameron, William and Grayson
Land, all of Arlington; nephews, Matthew, Andrew and Mark
Hohertz, all of Grand Prairie; nieces Allison Barnard of
San Antonio; niece, Kenitra Alston of Bellevue, WA;
close friends, Larry Hughes of Grand Prairie, Harold
Harrington of Grand Prairie, Kenny Lee of Grand Prairie,
Larry Simmons of Arlington, Bob "Snake" LeGrand of Arlington,
Mike Griffin of Arlington; and many, many others.