Lewis (Lewie) Hunt, MAS, a 36-year veteran of the promotional products industry, has died. He was 75.

His widow Joan Tucker Hunt told PPAI Media that he had passed away on Aug. 9 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

A native of St. Joseph’s, Missouri, Hunt earned an associate degree in business administration and management from Missouri Western State University. After struggling to make ends meet with odd jobs, he got his big break in the promo industry by becoming a commissioned sales representative for The Vernon Company (PPAI 109323, D11) – ranked the No. 44 distributor in this year’s PPAI 100 – in Newton, Iowa.

Pounding the pavement and going door to door, Hunt worked his way up to district manager, which Joan attributes to his “tenacity and charm.”

“Lewie was the life of the party,” Joan says. “He loved everybody and most loved him! When you saw Lewie coming, one of the first things you saw was the smile across his face. He loved joking around with people.”

“The Pen Guy”

Hunt left The Vernon Company to become president of the defunct Souvenir Lead Pencil Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His sales prowess led to him becoming known throughout the industry as “The Pen Guy,” Joan says, adding that when he became a multi-line rep for its offshoot Cedar Crest Manufacturing (PPAI 409498, S6), he made “probably $60,000 commission a year just off the pen line alone.”

Quite active in the promo industry, Hunt was a member of the PPAI CAS/MAS Alumni Association, Public Relations Advisory Council and Awards Advisory Council. He also hosted a golf tournament for promo professionals with all proceeds supporting Alzheimer’s research.

“Lewie was close to a scratch golfer,” Joan says. “His uncle tried getting him to go pro in high school, but Lewie didn’t feel he was disciplined enough. He still loved playing, though.”

Eager to launch his own business, Hunt departed Souvenir to begin a multiline rep company with industry veteran Bob Evans called Hunt/Evans Group located in St. Louis. They were representatives for multiple states throughout the Midwest until Evans decided to move away from promo.

Luckily, that’s when Hunt found his new partner – in business and in life.

Best Friends

The whirlwind romance began in the spring of 2008.

“I had been single for 11 years,” Joan says. “He kissed me for the first time, and I said to myself, ‘I’m in trouble here.’ From that point on, we dated for six months and then got married in October.”

A devout Missouri football fan, Hunt’s family had season tickets for more than 50 years. On October 11, 2008, Hunt (and the rest of the country) was shocked when Oklahoma State University upset the third-ranked Tigers, 28-23. But tying the knot during the tailgate, surrounded by family and friends, softened the blow.

“There were a thousand people there at the wedding that we didn’t have to pay for,” Joan laughs. “Each of us had been previously married, so we went through annulments and got married in the Catholic church. The monsignor said, ‘You two are the most compatible people I’ve ever met in the 25 years I’ve been in marriage counseling.’”

That same year, the newlyweds would launch multi-line rep firm The Hunt Group, covering Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota. Although Hunt’s formal title was vice president, he and Joan were “total partners 100% of the way.”  

“He taught me so much and had all this experience and contacts,” she says. “We were together 24/7. A lot of people can’t do that with their spouses, but we could. We were best friends.”

Hunt is survived by Joan; his five children; his three stepchildren; many grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will take place from 3 – 6 p.m. on September 16 at Trinity Woods on 20301 East 45th Street in Independence, Missouri. All are welcome.