A. Frank Hooker Jr. dies at age 77
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2007
Penhook, Va. — A. Frank Hooker Jr., a retired leader and 43-year veteran of Hooker Furniture, died Monday. He was 77.
Hooker was president and chief operating officer of the case goods manufacturer from 1987 to 1999, when he retired, and was a board member of the company from 1958 to 2005. His father, A. Frank Hooker Sr., and his father's brother, Clyde Hooker Sr., founded the company in 1924.
"Frank spent his entire working career with Hooker Furniture. He came up through the manufacturing ranks and really championed manufacturing his entire career," said Hooker Chairman and CEO Paul Toms, who is a cousin. "He took a great deal of pride in all the plants — Martinsville (Va.) as well as all the outlying plants — and really considered all the plant managers, supervisors and hourly employees as friends."
Hooker could come off gruff, but was really a "teddy bear" and tender person, Toms added. "Sometimes he would have a scowl on his face ... but deep down he had a soft touch and soft spot in his heart for the people who worked here."
Hooker graduated from Duke University in 1952 and was a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps before joining the company.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, two daughters, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a sister. His niece, Martee Hooker Seuss, has been a Hooker sales representative in northern California for the past 24 years and his cousin, Clyde Hooker Jr., is chairman emeritus and remains active in the business, although he retired from management in 2000, said Toms.
A Christian Science service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Christ Community Church in Penhook, Va., followed by a private interment service at Franklin Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at the home from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday, and requests that memorial contributions be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
