David J. Hooker, 1972
B.A., Denison University
J.D., Stanford University
Attorney, Denison Life Trustee
Gates Mills, Ohio
Since 1975, David Hooker has practiced law at Thompson Hine LLP in Cleveland, where he has also been involved with nonprofit organizations promoting diversity, public education, music, and community health. As a lawyer, David spent much of his career as a trial lawyer in major business cases; he was recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization limited to the top one percent of trial lawyers in the United States and Canada. From 1997 to 2012, he served as managing partner of his law firm, during which Thompson Hine expanded to New York and Atlanta and garnered recognition for its focus on client service.
David has served as a board member of several nonprofit organizations, including service on the boards of United Way (where he led the campaign in Cleveland), chair of the Diversity Center of Greater Cleveland, chair of the Cleveland Initiative for Education, and as a trustee of the Cleveland Orchestra.
David grew up in Tiffin, a small town in northwest Ohio. At Denison, he majored in history and joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. His academic achievement and leadership earned him membership in the Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa honoraries.
David met his wife, Nancy Hall ’72, while at Denison. He was a writer for the Denisonian, and, in the spring of 1970, he helped cover a period of intense social unrest and progress toward racial issues on campus. After a junior year abroad in Basel, Switzerland, David graduated in 1972 with highest honors. After Denison, David attended Stanford Law School, where he was a member of the Stanford Law Review. He earned his J.D. in 1975.
David has not left Denison behind since graduating. He and Nancy have contributed to Denison’s Annual Fund with consistency, as well as to multiple endowed funds. He was an active member of Denison’s Board of Trustees for 27 years and has been recognized as a life trustee of the college. As a board member, David served as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and as a member of the committees for Buildings and Grounds, Finance and Audit, and Trustee Affairs. He has been a Class Reunion volunteer, President’s Associate volunteer, and Campaign city chair; and he served as president of the Society of the Alumni from 1986 to 1988.
David and Nancy still reside near Cleveland.
