Kenneth Hooper

Olton native and lifelong Lubbock resident Kenneth Bailey Hooper ("Hoop"), born July 24, 1943, was called home to the Lord on May 13, 2022 at the age of 78. The son of Elbert Franklin Hooper and Mary Lucille Foraker, he was a talented athlete with a keen mind. After a post-high school car accident deprived him of his ability to take advantage of a football scholarship to Texas Tech University, he studied and received a degree in business from West Texas State University in Canyon in 1964 before receiving a law degree from the University of Texas in 1968. On a summer break home to Olton, ha had occasion to see a particular beauty named Rosemary on a trip to Plainview, and made it known to a mutual "acquaintance" that he very much wanted to meet her. He called Rosemary and she was sufficiently impressed by his status as a law student to agree to meet him for a coke. A simple soda turned into a four hour conversation, and they agreed to meet for another date over watermelon in the park when both had returned to Austin.

Watermelon in the park turned into a steady relationship culminating in Kenneth's marriage to the love of his life, Rosemary Bublis Hooper, on December 27, 1967. After graduation, he and Rosemary moved to Lubbock. Following a brief stint working for Plains National Bank, Kenneth began a career as an Assistant Director of Enforcement for the State Securities Board, where he spent the next thirty years investigating and pursuing conmen who sought to harm the innocent public through securities related schemes. Kenneth was a devoted husband and doting father, who lavished his sons with the fruits of his woodworking skills, creating a vast array of toys and play structures including but not limited to a rocket-ship, helicopter with working rotors, tank with moving turret, and two-story fort with the fastest slide this side of the Mississippi, each designed, crafted, and assembled in secret much to the delight of his boys upon their unveiling. He supported his son's activities in boy scouts, sports, and the theater, dragging himself to the tennis courts after a long day at work to hit balls to his son Hayden to help him improve his game, and to the pinewood derby to put the boy's wood engineering to the test.

A lover of nature and tranquility, Kenneth was most relaxed camping and staying in cabins in the mountains of New Mexico, where he indulged his voracious reading habit, consuming every word that Louis Lamour and Zane Gray publisher's ever saw fit to print. He shared this love with his family, and after games of spades or an evening around the campfire, would read stories to the boys, occasionally even supplying each character with its own unique voice.

Kenneth had a wry sense of humor and unflinching sense of ethics and fair play that he imparted to his children and proudly acted out in his life. A steadfast and loyal friend, no one could say that his support was in ever doubt or that his promise was anything but golden. Left mourning his absence are his sister Terry, beloved wife Rosemary Hooper, sons, Zane and Hayden, daughter-in-law Jennifer, and granddaughter Beatrice. His absence is keenly felt, and his presence is sorely missed.

Rosary and visitation will be held June 3rd, 2022. 6:00-8:00p.m. at Christ the King Cathedral. The funeral services will be June 4th, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Cathedral.

In honor of Kenneth's care for the community, memorials may be made to South Plains Food Bank, Meals on Wheels or St. Jude's Hospital.