PROFILE: Joel Hooper was born in Texas in June of 1899. He resided most of his life in Lorena, Texas working for the postal service. Hooper died in April of 1980 just one year after being added to the PIONEER section in 1979.

HISTORY: Joel attended his first National Coursing Meet in Red Fork, Oklahoma in 1920, within one year he owned a greyhound. Hooper was involved in the greyhound industry for the next 60 years. Hooper witnessed great growth in this sport. Joel managed to keep many people informed about what he was seeing through a monthly column, HOOPER SEZ, in the National Greyhound Association Publication. Hooper was not just a writer; he was interested in the greyhounds too. Joel participated in many of the NGA meets. In the spring of 1939 he won his first National Stake in the Spring Spalding with HUACO LAD.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Joel Hooper always assumed an active political role in the greyhound industry and in 1943 served as vice-president of the National Coursing Association. He was also a member of their Half-Century Club, having been a member for over 50 years. Joel Hooper’s heyday had to be 1976 when he ran 1-3-4 in the Derby Lane Gold Trophy Stakes, winning with HOOPER’S FOLLY.