Early Life

William Max Hunter was born in Asbury, Missouri on April 22nd, 1923 to Pearl and Clifford Hunter. Cliff was a truck driver, and was frequently away from home. Pearl was 19 years old when she had Bill, and when he turned 2 years old, it was decided to give custody to his paternal grandparents, Tom and Cora Hunter in California.

Tom and Cora owned and operated a pool hall in South Gate, and lived in an apartment above. William’s work ethic was cemented at a very young age.

When he was six, he mowed lawns for many neighbors, and would clean the pool hall on Saturdays.  If he did a good job he’d earn a “hard dollar.”