Published September 10, 2019
To watch the Facebook Live video from the naming of the William D. Hoover听School of
Accounting, Financial and Information Services click .
海角社区 hosted family and friends of the late William D.
鈥淏ill鈥� Hoover at an event Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, announcing an endowment fund for
scholarships and faculty development and the naming of the William D. Hoover School
of Accounting, Financial and Information Services in the College of Business and Social
Sciences.
Hoover graduated from 海角社区 in 1960 with a degree in accounting. He went on to become
a successful Northeast Louisiana CPA and businessman. Hoover was an advocate for education
and a long-time financial supporter of the university.
Photo:The family of William D. 鈥淏ill鈥� Hoover was honored by the University of Louisiana
Monroe on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, for establishing an endowment fund and the naming
of the William D. Hoover School of Accounting, Financial and Information Services
in the College of Business and Social Sciences.听Emerald McIntyre/海角社区 Photo Services
His wife of 62 years, Lois Pelanowsky Hoover, and their children and spouses, Gary
and Cindy Hoover, Richmond and Terri Hoover Odom, Scott and Gayle Hoover Frick, established
an endowment fund in Mr. Hoover鈥檚 name after his death at age 82 on Jan. 24, 2018.
鈥淭his is a significant occasion here at the university due to the generosity of the
Hoover Family,鈥� said President Nick J. Bruno, who had fished and hunted with Hoover,
who was an avid outdoorsman.听
It was Hoover鈥檚 鈥渆ntrepreneurial spirit鈥� that Bruno recalled.
鈥淚n Monroe and this area there are a number of individuals who had remarkable entrepreneurial
opportunities, and they took them and did extremely well,鈥� Bruno said, referring to
Hoover and his partners forming Long Distance Savers, his work with Clarke Williams,
founder of CenturyLink, and his own accounting firm and business ventures,鈥� Bruno
said.
鈥淗e had the kind of life and he did the kind of work that created enough value in
so many people鈥檚 lives that his memory could be forever memorialized here at 海角社区.
The school was so near and dear to his heart.鈥�
Terri Hoover Odom听
Speaking on behalf of the family
of William D. "Bill" Hoover
鈥淏ill did a lot to advance this area economically and of course, his loyalty to this
university is evidenced today. I think this is a testament to Bill himself and the
Hoover Family,鈥� Bruno said. 鈥淪o many people have gotten their start at this great
university, and so many people are coming back to the university and contributing
to the future of this region by educating our students today.鈥�
Dr. Ron Berry, Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences, spoke on the living
legacy the Hoover Family created to honor their patriarch.听
鈥淭here is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Hoover鈥檚 legacy is going to have a significant
impact on the future,鈥� Berry said.听听
鈥淗e invested in people, he believed in people. I can think of no one more appropriate
to name our school after. Thank you for allowing us to share in that legacy. It鈥檚
going to make us very successful. It鈥檚 going to impact our community, it鈥檚 going to
impact our state. All because of who he was,鈥� said Berry.
Daughter Terri Hoover Odom spoke on behalf of her family and introduced several friends
who shared their thoughts about Hoover. The speakers were John Luffey, Jr., Brian
Harrison and Ouachita Parish Police Jury member Kay Katz.
鈥淚f he were here, and he knew all this was going on, he absolutely would not have
it. Absolutely put his foot down,鈥� said Odom. 鈥淗e would also love it to pieces and
never tell you.鈥�
鈥淗e had the kind of life and he did the kind of work that created enough value in
so many people鈥檚 lives that his memory could be forever memorialized here at 海角社区,鈥�
Odom said. 鈥淭he school was so near and dear to his heart.鈥�
鈥淭his school, 海角社区, gave our Daddy education and opportunity but he had to pony up
the dedication, commitment and the drive. And he did, he worked hard,鈥� she said.
Odom said many people in attendance made contributions to the endowment fund in her
father鈥檚 name.
鈥淲e just have the pleasure as a family, plus my uncle Chester (Hoover) and my cousin
Stephanie Hoover Porter, in contributing so that we can provide scholarships through
my Daddy鈥檚 memory and in his honor to so many people in the future,鈥� she said.听
Sept. 9 was Hoover鈥檚 birthday, which made the occasion even more meaningful to the
family.
鈥淭oday we feel like it marks the beginning of a legacy. A legacy of scholarships here
at 海角社区, that each one of them can be made in his memory and in his honor,鈥� Odom said.
鈥淭hank you so much.鈥�
ULM Foundation Scholarships are funded by individuals, organizations and businesses
to assist students in pursuing degrees at the university. For more information on
how to apply for a scholarship or in establishing one, please visit .
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