Civil Rights Leader. He attended LeMoyne College in Memphis and afterward served three years in the Army during World War II. After his military service he attended DePaul University in Chicago where he earned his law degree in 1948. After establishing a successful law practice in Memphis, he was appointed a crimnal court judge. He was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon in 1972 to the Federal Communications commission. He became leader of the NAACP in 1976 and led that organization until 1992. Dr. Hooks also was a Baptist minister, leading several congregations during his fifty years in the pulpit. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement and dedicated his career to ensuring equality for all people. In 2007 he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush. He served as chairman of the board for the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, was instrumental in the creation of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institue for Social Change at the University of Memphis, and the main branch of the Memphis library was named in his honor.
Civil Rights Leader. He attended LeMoyne College in Memphis and afterward served three years in the Army during World War II. After his military service he attended DePaul University in Chicago where he earned his law degree in 1948. After establishing a successful law practice in Memphis, he was appointed a crimnal court judge. He was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon in 1972 to the Federal Communications commission. He became leader of the NAACP in 1976 and led that organization until 1992. Dr. Hooks also was a Baptist minister, leading several congregations during his fifty years in the pulpit. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement and dedicated his career to ensuring equality for all people. In 2007 he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush. He served as chairman of the board for the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, was instrumental in the creation of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institue for Social Change at the University of Memphis, and the main branch of the Memphis library was named in his honor.
Bio by: Carole McCaig
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