John Wesley Hunnell

John Wesley Hunnell was born on the 23rd of July 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, to Wesley D. and Frances Belle Hunnell. Since his birth, family and friends called him Jack. In first grade Jack discovered he was color blind, and that same year he lost his hearing in his left ear due to an illness. On Monday, the 29th of August 2022, Jack left this world. Now he can see all the magnificent colors of God’s creation and hear clearly!

An excellent student with an inquiring mind, Jack earned his Bachelor of Science degree and his Master’s degree from the University of Illinois. In the fall of 1955, a time of peace in our nation, he was halfway to his PhD in food science when his education was interrupted by a letter from President Eisenhower. Its ominous opening, familiar to young men, began, “Greetings.” Jack was drafted. In peacetime. The draft board denied his appeals, citing the nation’s “genuine need.” Promptly the Army assigned him to an all-female unit of physical therapists. After the Army corrected its mistake, Jack served in the US Army Medical Corps Surgical Research Unit at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In 1957, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army reserves and returned to the U of I to start afresh on his PhD.

Jack always said the best thing that came out of his tenure with US Army was his blind date with Lee Adcock, a junior at Trinity University. In June of 1958, after her graduation, Jack and Lee married in San Antonio and drove to Urbana, Illinois. Upon completion of his doctorate, Jack was employed by the refrigerated division of Pillsbury in New Albany, Indiana. One of his first projects was their refrigerated orange rolls. From 1960 onward, those delicious orange rolls became an essential part of Christmas breakfast in the Hunnell household. From Pillsbury Jack moved to a newly begun food division of Colgate Palmolive in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Two years later he joined a newly formed rice company, Riviana Foods, based in Houston. There, Jack became its Director of Research and Development, and in time, Riviana became the world’s leading retailer of packaged rice.

In the 1960’s, Riviana rapidly broadened its vision and Jack’s expertise as it acquired companies with diverse products: Pangburn’s Candies, Hebrew National kosher products, Romanoff Caviar, Hills Pet Food, and Towie Cherries and Olives. During his decades-long career with Riviana Foods, Jack set up research facilities, specification systems, sensory and laboratory procedures, quality assurance, product audit, and packaging development functions, all of which remain in place today. He was awarded a number of U.S. Patents for both products and processes, including for Riviana’s signature, most profitable product, Success Rice.

Throughout his career Jack was an active member of the Institute of Food of Technologists, an international, non-profit scientific society engaged in food science, technology, and related areas of academia, government, and industry. Members are drawn from 95+ countries.

Jack loved to cook. His culinary creations were not limited to the research laboratory. Jack’s turkey dressing is legendary and will forever be enjoyed every holiday.

Jack loved to travel–whether for work or pleasure. He circled the globe visiting every exotic site and scenic wonder on every continent except Antarctica. Jack also loved to drive—usually a tad fast. Over his lifetime, Jack took many epic road trips across North America, to the most distant points imaginable, always with a thermos of coffee and the ever-present foldable road map.

At home, he was devoted to his church, St. Martin’s Episcopal, serving for years as a teller and as a leader of a men’s study group. He willingly helped with stewardship campaigns, pancake suppers, the Docent Guild and Saintly Stitchers, serving however he was needed.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Frances, to whom he was devoted. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lee; their son, John and his wife, Denise, their daughter, Mary, and her husband, Steven Smith; six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in memory of Jack may be directed to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for their Health and Healing Center and maintenance of their lovely garden. Jack supported the H&HC from its inception. And, at home, despite Houston’s heat and humidity, Jack was a joyful gardener. Donations made be sent to 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056;. Alternatively, gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (memo: “restrict to research”), 6055 South Loop East, Houston, Texas 77087.