Henry L. Hooks

Henry L. Hooks was born in Shreveport, LA-the son of the first Black postman in Blanchard, LA (Sandy B. Hooks). He moved to San Bernardino, CA in 1943 with his wife Opal while serving in the U.S. Military Air Force during WWIl, and made the city his home. During this time, Hooks worked as a Projectionist, and as a Staff Presenter/Lecture. He is one of the first African-Americans to work for NASA, and Hooks is the first African-American to work for NASA in U.S. moon-reach endeavors. He had top secret clearance, and was an Investigating Officer in the Chico Missile Explosion. He worked for Norton Air Force Base (San Bernardino Army Airfield) as a Quality Control Supervisor, and eventually for the Department of Defense as an AirCraft Mechanic, Crew Chief, AirCraft Inspector. After his 1979 retirement from the military, Hooks was active in the Republican Party in San Bernardino, CA, securing necessary votes for governor and President Reagan's election. In addition, Hooks was an entrepreneur and real estate business person who majored in Business Administration at San Bernardino Valley College. He was financially instrumental in the property purchase for Prince Hall #17 where he served as Worshipful Master (33rd). A board member of the Boys and Girls Club, founder of American Legion Post #710, and a proud disabled veteran, Hooks' niece-Global Equality Advocate and Activist Greshun De Bouse (LA)-is founder of Disabled Veteran's Day (June 30). A famed photojournalist, Hooks is the first photojournalist to get African-American photos published in the San Bernardino Sun & Telegram. Hooks has been honored in the San Bernardino County Museum and elsewhere for his award-winning celebrity photo collection, which includes The Clintons, Jesse Jackson, The Supremes, Kim Fields, Colin Powell, Ronald Regan, and a host of other notables.