LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Dr. Olivia J. Hooker upon the
occasion of celebrating her 100th Birthday on February 15, 2015, at the
New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislator's 44th
Annual Conference

WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to
the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their past
contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and valuable
asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Olivia
J. Hooker upon the occasion of her 100th Birthday to be celebrated at
the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislator's
44th Annual Conference on Sunday, February 15, 2015, at the Hilton Alba-
ny Hotel, Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, Olivia J. Hooker was born on February 12, 1915, the fourth of
five children, to Anita J. and Samuel D. Hooker, in Muskogee, Oklahoma,
and later moved with her family to Tulsa, Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, Olivia J. Hooker was six years old when her community in
Tulsa was destroyed on May 31, 1921, by the worst race riot in the
history of the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Olivia J. Hooker, along with other survivors of the
Tulsa race riot, was instrumental in helping found the Tulsa Race Riot
Commission, which drafted recommendations for restitution; and
WHEREAS, Olivia J. Hooker earned her bachelor's degree from Ohio State
University, and taught third grade before proudly serving her country as
a member in the United States Coast Guard during World War II; she was
the first African-American woman to serve in active duty in the Coast
Guard; and
WHEREAS, Upon her separation from the military, with the esteemed rank
of Yeoman, Second Class, Olivia J. Hooker went on to earn a Master's
degree in Psychological Services from Teachers College at Columbia
University; and
WHEREAS, Olivia J. Hooker then served three years as a Psychologist at
Albion State School; after a brief four months as a School Psychologist
in both New York and Brooklyn, she became Senior Psychologist at Bedford
Hills Reformatory and Prison for Women; and
WHEREAS, Oliva J. Hooker went on to obtain her Ph.D from the Universi-
ty of Rochester, where she was one of two African-American female
students; and
WHEREAS, Upon completion, Dr. Olivia J. Hooker served as Director of
Psychology and Associate Administrator for 22 years at New York's Kenne-
dy Child Study Center; concurrently, she taught in the Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University, retiring as Associate
Professor in 1985; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Olivia J. Hooker evaluated candidates for
special schools and supervised School Psychology Interns, at the Fred S.
Keller School of Behavior Analysis, before retiring again in 2002; and
WHEREAS, As a widely respected academic, Dr. Olivia J. Hooker has
delivered papers in child assessment at conferences in Rome and Bologna,
Italy, and in Cairo, Egypt, as well as several major United States
cities; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Olivia J. Hooker has been called upon to contribute her
time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors including
serving as a Board Member of White Plains Early Learning Center, The
Visiting Nurse's Association, Terrence Cardinal Cook Services, and
Kennedy Child Study Center; and

WHEREAS, Currently, this exceptional woman serves on the Executive
Committee of the White Plains - Greenburgh NAACP; she also sponsors
youth in the NAACP ACT-SO program at both the regional and national
levels, and serves in the Children's Advisory Services of University
Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Olivia J. Hooker, with her zest for life, has inspired
and enhanced the lives of her family and friends; and
WHEREAS, She is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where she
is a Certified Layspeaker, an enthusiastic member of the United Metho-
dist Women; and
WHEREAS, In retirement Dr. Olivia J. Hooker remains active devoting
her time at Westchester Medical Center and mentoring as a literacy
volunteer as well as continuing her work with children and their
parents, encouraging youth to discover new horizons of achievement, thus
striving to utilize their full potential; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, in December
of 2011, Dr. Olivia J. Hooker was inducted into the Westchester Hall of
Fame and in February of 2012, she was honored with the illustrious
Trailblazer Award; and
WHEREAS, On April 30, 2012, at the remarkable age of 97, Professor
Emerita Olivia J. Hooker became the oldest member ever inducted into Psi
Chi, the esteemed International Honor Society in Psychology; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished woman has experienced the incredible joys
and sorrows characteristic of and reserved for those with the stamina
and courage to savor a full life; she has truly enriched the lives of
those around her through her joyous and sincere love for others and
through the quiescent charm and wisdom which comes only from a fullness
of years; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize those who have reached such a remarkable age and who have witnessed
and celebrated the innovations, cultural developments and awesome
achievements of this country during the last century, while themselves
contributing to the growth and excellence of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Dr. Olivia J. Hooker upon the occasion of celebrating her
100th Birthday; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Olivia J. Hooker.