Lack Bradley “L.B.” Hunter, Marion Chief of Police from 1968 to 1985, was born June 21, 1930, in Marion to George Hunter and Lelle Bradley on N. Madison Street. Hunter attended Marion schools and graduated Marion Township High School. His father, George Hunter, was a full blooded Scotsman who came to America in 1902 to work the local coal mines.
When the 1930 census was taken, the Hunter family was living at 913 N. Madison Street which they owned and valued at $2,000. George and Lelle were both 33 and their only child, Lack, was an infant. George was working as a coal miner for the Wallace Coal Company.
By 1940, the family had moved out of their N. Madison home and purchased a home at 714 N. Harper Street where they would live out their lives. The move was made after 1935. The parents both aged 43 at the time had only one son, Lack Hunter, aged 10. The couple valued their new home on Harper Street at $1,500.
At the age of 20, L.B. was married on June 10, 1950 to Miss Joan Zoeller, daughter of Adolph Zoeller in Marion at the First Baptist Church. They resided at 723 N. Harper Street where he would continue to live through his life, down the street from his parents.
In the early 1950’s, Hunter served 4 years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant.
After military service, he went to work at the Sangamo Electric Plant located at Ordill, where he later became a supervisor.
Hunter joined the Marion Police Department as a temporary police officer in June and December of 1964 and was hired permanently in April 1965. He later completed the Southern Illinois University basic police training course.
With the retirement of John Kelley as Chief of Police on December 31, 1968, Hunter was promoted to Sergeant and then to Chief of Police. Sgt. Carlos Dunning was named his Assistant Chief.
A tragic event for the family occurred on December 11, 1968 when it was discovered that L.B.’s 74 year old mother had fallen into a cistern at the rear of her home at 714 N. Harper Street. Mrs. Bradley had been in ill health for the previous few years. Her body was discovered when it was noticed that the cover was off the cistern. She had been born in Williamson County on December 10, 1894, a daughter of A.L. and Anna Jackson Bradley. She was married in 1923 to George Hunter, who died on December 31, 1965.
George was born November 8, 1895 in Scotland. He was a retired custodian of the Marion High School, a retired miner who worked at Wallace Coal Company, a U.M.W.A. member and a WW I army veteran.
L.B. was married to Lena Marie Stephens on September 2, 1970.
Hunter retired as Chief of Police for the Marion Police Department in 1985, when the position was filled by Ron Swafford. He immediately became a dispatcher and remained in that position until 1992 when he retired after 27 years of service.
He was a member of the Third Baptist Church, Marion Masonic Lodge No. 89 A.F. & A.M., the Belleville Consistory and Ainad Shriners of East St. Louis.
L.B. Hunter, 75, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2006, after enjoying a Father’s Day with his beautiful wife Marie and his lovely daughter Vicki and his three lovely granddaughters Hillary, Holly and Heather. L.B. quietly and gently went to meet his Savior at 5:10 p.m.
L.B. was survived by his wife, Lena Marie Hunter of Marion; daughter, Vickie Elizabeth Hunter of Marion; granddaughters, Hillary Enloe and husband, Aaron, of Montgomery, Mo., Heather Hudgens of Marion, Holly Hudgens of Marion; three stepchildren, Lena Deutsch and husband, Willie, of Alton, Randall Taylor and wife, Karen, of Havana, and Charles Taylor and wife Lisa, of Tucson, Arizona; nine step-grandchildren, Charles Deutsch, Jennifer Deutsch, Linda McAnally, Kristina Deutsch, Aaron Taylor, Trevor Taylor, Athena Brooks, Amy Schull and Megan Watts; ten great-grandchildren, Bladen, Logan, Alexxis, Emmie, Eathan, Tanner, Taylor, Rylee, Calista and Tori.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Masonic Rites were performed at 7 p.m. Tuesday by Marion Masonic Lodge No. 89.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home with the Reverends David Hancock, Ron Orr and Scott Kallem officiating.
Military Rites were performed by Marion VFW Post No. 1301 and American Legion Post No. 147.
Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican Obits, June 25, 2006; Southern Illinoisan, Dec. 11, 1968; Dec. 31, 1968; June & Dec., 1964; Dec. 31, 1965; Federal Census Records; Illinois Death Records; Findagrave.com; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 01/23/2014)