MONDAY, June 29, 2026|
Photo – Billy Hunt – Rawlins Parks and Rec Director
The City of Rawlins has hired a new Parks and Recreation Director.
Billy Hunt is the new Parks and Recreation Director for Rawlins. Speaking to Bigfoot99 and Bandit102, Hunt said in his early 20s, he managed three hotels in Anchorage, Alaska, and learned a lot from several experienced mentors. After 20 years, he became chief of staff to the CEO of the Alaska Native Corporation, which supports economic opportunities for native Alaskan communities. While there, Hunt said he coordinated with federal contractors.
Hunt said he is also a certified coach with 30 years of experience, specializing in basketball. While refereeing his daughter’s game, he said the school principal invited him to serve as the physical education teacher and athletic director, a role he truly enjoyed.
After spending most of his life in Alaska, Hunt said he wanted to live somewhere with more sunlight and moved to Arizona. While there, he began looking for local jobs in the parks and recreation field. Having little luck, Hunt said he expanded his search and found the open Parks and Recreation Director position in Rawlins. After interviewing with Rawlins City Manager Matt Hall, Hunt was chosen for the job.
Before accepting the position, Hunt said he did extensive research on Carbon County. As an avid outdoorsman, he said he appreciated the easy access to hiking and fishing opportunities in the area. Hunt said he also found the weather appealing, describing it as a mix of Arizona’s sunny summers and Alaska’s cold, snowy winters, but with more wind.
Billy Hunt officially started as the city’s new Parks and Recreation Director in early June, but he returned to Arizona to wrap up his affairs before moving to Rawlins last week. Hunt said he is taking his time to understand the city and its parks and recreation needs.
In his short time as the city’s Parks and Recreation Director, Hunt said he identified a need to ensure the departments he oversees understand what they’re required to do. He said that clarity is essential to keeping the city’s green spaces and recreation programs running as efficiently as possible.
Hunt was formally introduced during the June 16th Rawlins City Council meeting, where he encouraged residents to contact him with questions or ideas to strengthen the city’s parks and recreation facilities.
