Biography of Robert Lee Hunter, MD - Raleigh Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, 
pg. 570 


ROBERT LEE HUNTER M. D. Not only has Dr. Robert 
Lee Hunter lived up to the highest ideals of his profession 
in his private practice, but when this country was at war 
- he offered his services, responded to the call and, leaving 
his large practice, went into the army and remained with 
it until he was honorably discharged. While he is at 
present carrying on a general practice, he has given much 
attention to children's diseases and skin troubles in his 
post-graduate work, and is planning to soon devote all of 
his time to these special branches. During all of his practice 
he has been located at Jarrolds Valley, which is the oldest 
settlement in this part of the state, having been in existence 
long before the developmnt [sic] of the mining interests in this 
locality.
Doctor Hunter was horn at Dry Creek, Raleigh County, 
West Virginia, June 13, 1881, a sun of Lewis and Arminta 
(Honaker) Hunter, natives of West Virginia and Tazewell 
County, West Virginia, respectively. Lewis Hunter was 
a teacher and farmer, and one of the leading men of 
Raleigh County. For two terms he served the county as 
deputy sheriff, and for one term held the office of sheriff. 
His death occurred some years ago.
The preliminary training of Doctor Hunter was acquired 
in the common schools of Raleigh County, and he was pre- 
pared for teaching at Beckley. After securing his certificate 
he engaged in teaching for a short time, but found the 
work was not congenial, and so took up the study of 
medicine, and, going to Louisville, became a student of 
the University of Louisville, from which he was graduated 
in 1907, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Alter 
a preliminary experience of about a year with Doctor Pettry 
at Dorothy, West Virginia, and ten months in Martin 
County, Kentucky, Doctor Hunter established himself 
permanently at Jarrolds Valley. When the mines were 
opened here he became their physician, and so continued 
until the expansion of his private practice made it im- 
possible for him to attend the cases other than as a part of 
his own clientele. In 1917 Doctor Hunter took post- 
graduate work at Atlanta, Georgia, at the Emory University, 
and in 1920 at the Southern Post-Graduate Medical Depart- 
ment of the University of California. During the late 
war Doctor Hunter entered the medical department, was 
called to the service in October, 1918, and went to Base 
Hospital at Camp Sevier, South Carolina, as a first 
lieutenant, and remained there until December 14, 1918, 
when he was honorably discharged and returned home on 
December 20. He is still a first lieutenant in the Medical 
Reserve Corps.
In 1908, Doctor Hunter married at Jarrolds Valley Lula 
May Jarrell, a daughter of G. M. and Mollie (Farley) 
Jarrell, both natives of West Virginia, and farming 
people. Doctor and Mrs. Hunter have one daughter, 
Priscilla. Doctor Hunter belongs to the Presbyterian 
Church. He is a Chapter Mason, and is going on in his 
fraternity. Politically he gives his support to the candi- 
dates of the democratic party. An earnest, resourceful 
and carefully-trained practitioner, he has been eminently 
successful, and there is no doubt but that when his plans 
are carried out, will achieve distinction in the special 
branches to which he has given so much thought and study. 
His personal following is large, and his patients hold him 
in grateful regard, for to them he is more than simply 
their medical man, he is a friend and a tower of strength 
in times of great trouble.


Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@earthlink.net> 

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