Uncrowned Community Builders

Archie L. Hunter was a longtime civic leader, educator and community activist. He was a Buffalo native. He was a graduate of School 32, Hutchinson Central High School and the University at Buffalo. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology and a master's degree in social work at the University. Hunter worked at the Erie County Department of Social Services for 32 years. He served in several administrative capacities before his retirement. Much of his early work was devoted to counseling troubled youth and establishing activities for them. He also was an adjunct faculty member at Buffalo State College and other local institutions of higher learning for more than 14 years.
Hunter was a lifelong member of Trinity Baptist Church. He served as chairman of the board of trustees and financial secretary for the church for more than 30 years. He was also a Sunday school teacher, Baptist training union teacher and a member of the laymen's league. He also coordinated the congregationÃ?¢ââ??¬ââ??¢s efforts to build a new church.
Hunter was a founding member of the Phi Omega chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and served as its president from 1984 to 1988. Throughout his life and most notably after his retirement, Hunter distinguished himself as a tireless and dedicated volunteer for numerous community organizations. A member of the board and executive committee of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, he was co-chairman of the agency's allocations committee, a member of its management assistance fund distribution, admissions and grants committees and chairman of its minority advisory committee.
He also served as vice president of the Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Care Center and was on the board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, chairman of the university/community advisory council of the Educational Opportunity Center and secretary of the Buffalo Convention Center Management Corporation.
As one of the founding board members of the William-Emslie YMCA, Hunter headed the program and finance committees and was instrumental in developing the capital campaign, which eventually helped provide funds for a new building.
Hunter also volunteered his time to the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, St. Augustine's Center, the Buffalo Urban League, the Buffalo NAACP and the Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association. In 1991, the United Way recognized him as its Volunteer of the Year and the Alumni Association of the School of Social Work at UB selected him as its Social Worker of the Year.
Hunter served with the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II.
He was married to Dr. Juanita Hunter and the couple had two sons, Jeffery and Wayne and a daughter, Gail.
Hunter is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.