Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1994
A Wake Forester in the truest sense, Hooks attended the College in its original home of Wake Forest, N.C., following an outstanding career as a three-sport athlete in his hometown of Rocky Mount. He gained All-America honors as a third baseman in both 1949 and 1950 for the Deacon baseball squad and helped that program to the national runner-up position in 1949.
Following a stint in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, Hooks returned to academia. He completed work for his masters in education at the University of North Carolina during the 1951 and 1952 off-season. He worked as a physical education instructor at North Carolina State in 1953 and 1954. After the 1954 season, Hooks returned to school to get his doctorate degree. His playing career was cut short due to arm and knee trouble.
Hooks completed his doctorate in physical education from Peabody College in Nashville, TN and returned to Wake Forest in 1956 as an instructor of physical education. He coached the Demon Deacons baseball team from 1957-59.
Along with his athletic and coaching abilities, Hooks used his knowledge to author the book Application of Weight Training in Athletics in 1962. Hooks advocated weight training for improving strength and athletic performance at a time when it was not widely accepted. A revised edition of his book was released in 1974 in three languages.
After earning his masters and doctorate degrees, Hooks returned to Wake Forest (now in Winston-Salem) as an instructor in the physical education department, where he taught until his appointment as athletic director in February of 1964.
Hooks served in that job for 28 years to improve Wake Forest athletics. He had a reputation as an innovator and sound financial manager. Athletic department revenues increased more than tenfold under Hooks. Wake Forest University recognized Hooks' lifelong commitment to its athletic program by naming the baseball stadium after the former standout player in 1988.
He also is a past recipient of the WFU Medallion of Merit, the highest award presented by the university, for his distinguished service.
Hooks remained closely involved with intercollegiate athletics after his retirement from Wake Forest. He served as executive director of the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association through his office in Winston-Salem.
Gene Hooks and his wife Jean have three sons. Hooks was inducted into the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame on January 14, 1994. He was elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
