Rockwell Dennis Hunt was born in Sacramento, CA, in February 1868. He earned a B.A. from Napa College in 1890, which not long after became a part of the University of the Pacific. He then earned his Ph.D. in history from Johns Hopkins University in 1895. Hunt's academic career was spent both in secondary education and higher education. He taught history and economics at the University of the Pacific (1895-1902), followed by a position as principal of San Jose High School in San Jose, CA. He then taught economics at the University of Southern California (USC) beginning in 1908. During his tenure at USC, Hunt helped organize the College of Commerce and Business Administration in 1920 and was appointed Dean of the College, serving in that position until 1924. He was named Dean of the Graduate School in 1920, and subsequently Director of the School of Research (1933-1945). In addition to his teaching and administrative duties, Hunt was selected as chairman of the USC Semicentennial celebration in 1930. Hunt retired from USC in 1945. Following his retirement from USC, Hunt moved back to Northern California to teach history at the University of the Pacific in 1946, and to be Director of the California History Foundation. He subsequently retired again in 1954. Hunt was a prolific author. He wrote seventeen books, including his autobiography ("Mr. California": Autobiography of Rockwell D. Hunt) and a history of USC (The First Half-Century). In addition, he authored 169 articles on California history and other topics in professional journals, newspapers, and magazines. Due to this volume of work on California history, California Governor Goodwin Knight named Hunt "Mr. California" in 1954, the first person to be so recognized. Hunt passed away in January 1966.