[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E251]]


                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN A. HOOPER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 5, 2007

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent John 
A. Hooper who passed away on January 17, 2007, at the Sequoias Portola 
Valley, California, at the age of 89. He was an extraordinary 
Californian and a public servant who devoted much of his career to 
serving his country.
  Mr. Hooper was born in San Francisco in 1917, graduating from Thacher 
School in 1934 and from Stanford University in 1938 where he earned a 
bachelor's degree in political science. He earned a law degree from 
Harvard Law School and served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1942 
to 1946. He married Trish Lowrey, the great love of his life, in 1943 
and they had four children during their enduring marriage of 63 years.
  Mr. Hooper was a distinguished attorney with the law firm of 
Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro and practiced tax law for 10 years until 
he was asked by President Eisenhower to represent the U.S. Department 
of Defense in NATO. He also served under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson 
as Minister to the U.S. Mission to NATO. He was based in Paris with his 
wife and four children until 1967 and was honored with the Pentagon's 
Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his great work. His son, John C. 
Hooper, said: ``All of Europe was emerging from World War II, and the 
United States was helping Europe to get back on its feet; that was a 
real high point of my parents' lives.''
  Upon their return to the United States, John, Trish and their family 
moved to the land his grandfather purchased, Mountain Home Ranch in 
Woodside where they lived until moving to the Sequoias. He devoted 
himself to working with charitable and community organizations, serving 
as president of Planned Parenthood of Northern California, as president 
of the Auxiliary of the University of California Hospital, and as 
president of the Board of Delegates for Planned Parenthood Affiliates 
of California. He was a member of the Woodside Planning Commission for 
7 years and served as its chair from 1979 to 1980. He was a member of 
the Pacific Union Club and president of the Cypress Lawn Cemetery 
Association.
  I had the privilege of knowing John Hooper. He was an elegant, 
intelligent gentleman who was respected by his entire community. I 
benefited from his wise counsel and our country is better because of 
his patriotism and service. John Hooper was a national treasure and 
that's why Madam Speaker I ask my colleagues to join me in extending 
our deepest sympathy to Trish Hooper and their children, John C. Hooper 
of Point Arena, Margo H. Blair of Chicago, Lawrence Hooper of Twisp, 
WA, and Helen McCloskey of Rumsey, CA.

                          ____________________