Don Hunt and Charlie Hunt, the last two living founders of convenience store pizza distributor Hunt Brothers Pizza, both died in late December, according to an emailed announcement.
Don, 88, passed away on Dec. 22, while his brother, Charlie, died on Dec. 27. The announcement did not provide any specifics into the causes of their deaths.
Don and Charlie were preceded in death by their two brothers and Hunt Brothers Pizza co-founders, Lonnie Hunt and Jim Hunt. Don is survived by his four children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and Charlie by his four children and two grandchildren. Both are survived by their sisters Mary, Elizabeth and Terri.
“[Don and Charlie] were true pioneers in the industry, enriching the lives of everyone they touched, and we will continue to spread their positive message as we work toward growing the business,” Scott Hunt, son of Don Hunt and CEO of Hunt Brothers Pizza, said in the announcement.
Don and Charlie Hunt grew up in Evansville, Indiana, working in their father’s restaurant, Austin’s Drive In. Don founded Pepe’s Pizza in 1962, and his brothers joined him to grow the business over the following two decades across the Southeast.
The brothers then founded Hunt Brothers Pizza in 1991, which, more than three decades later, has led to over 9,000 store partnerships and over 550 team members. Since 2009, the company has been run by the second generation of leaders from the Hunt family.
