Hollis Hamilton Hooks

Hollis Hamilton Hooks died Saturday, May 10, 2025. He was born on June 3, 1950, in Lakeland, FL, to Mr. Homer Hooks and Mrs. Mary Hooks. He attended Southwest Elementary School, Southwest Junior High School, and graduated from Lakeland Senior High School. He went on to attend Mercer University in Macon, GA, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and was Toby, the Mercer bear mascot. He graduated from Mercer in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Following his graduation, he spent two years in Washington, DC as an aide to Florida’s US Senator Lawton Chiles. He then returned to Lakeland and joined the brokerage firm Merrill Lynch. In 1975, he married Debbie Waters also of Lakeland. In 1980, Hollis joined Smith Barney, Harris Upham and Co., which evolved through multiple mergers and name changes to Morgan Stanley. He was recognized numerous times over the years for his outstanding service to his clients and the firm. After more than 40 years as a wealth manager, he retired in 2021.

Hollis loved his hometown and was a tireless advocate for Lakeland and Polk County serving on multiple community boards. When his children were young, he took a strong interest in the public school system. In the 1980’s, he became a member of Cleveland Court Elementary School’s PTO, which then led to his serving as President of the Southwest Area Advisory Committee. At the same time, he served on the Board of Directors of the then Child Development Center, which would later become a Polk County charter school and was renamed the Achievement Academy. He served as President of the board in 1985. In 1992, he ran for, and was elected to, the Polk County School Board and served until 1996. He chaired the School Board in 1994-1995. During his term as Chairman, he helped draft the School Board’s first Strategic Plan in an effort to give a clear and defined direction to the Polk school system. Also, during his term, the county’s first charter school, The Apple School, was created along with the initiative to create an enhanced magnet school system to address the Federal Court desegregation order Polk County was under. The Magnet School system served to complement the newly created Rochelle School for the Arts and Lincoln Academy.

Hollis retired after one term from the school board. His successor, Jim Miles, passed away in the third year of his term. In an attempt to avoid a one-year special election, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Hollis to fill out the remainder of Miles’s term. In the three years Hollis was off the board he tirelessly worked for the passage of a referendum for a more responsive and visible School Board to the citizens of Polk County. Polk County is larger geographically than the state of Rhode Island; and due to that size, it was difficult for five members to effectively and adequately represent their large districts. The logical answer was to move to a seven-member board in an effort to create seven smaller districts. This change was taken to the voters in the form of a referendum and passed with a large majority.

Following his years on the board, he continued his interest in education as a strong proponent to change from an elected School Superintendent to an appointed Superintendent. That change would result in taking politics out of the process as to who was best qualified to lead the critically important charge of educating our students. That referendum also passed. Hollis served for years as a board member of the Polk Education Foundation in an effort to help raise awareness and additional private sector funding for the Polk School System. He served as President of the Foundation 2010-2012. His dedication and stewardship of schools across Polk County made a difference in the lives of many students.

Hollis’s interest in education was not limited to the Polk County’s K-12 public school system. He was appointed by Governor Bob Martinez to the board of Polk Community College, now Polk State College, and served as its board chair in 1985-1986. He was a member of the Florida Southern College Board of Overseers and was a member of the board of the Florida Southern College Lawton M. Chiles Center for Florida History. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Florida’s Gator Booster board in Gainesville. Hollis has always been a proud supporter of, and vocal advocate for, Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was a past board member and past president (2000-2001) of the Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation. In 1997, he was invited to serve on the board of the Lakeland Regional Medical Center and served for nine years. He served as chairman of the board in 2005-2006.

Additionally, Hollis was an advocate for Good Shepherd Hospice for many years because of the service that the organization provided to him and his family. He served for several years on the board of Good Shepherd Hospice of Polk County and was a member of the advisory committee of the Lakeland Hospice House.

While education and healthcare were very important to Hollis, he also served in other areas. He was a member of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association, a past board member and board chair in 2002-2003. He served on the boards of the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland South Rotary, and the advisory boards of the Peace River Center and the Learning Resource Center.

In recognition of his years of volunteer service to Lakeland and Polk County, in 2007 Hollis was awarded the annual Jere Annis Award by the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association.

He was a pillar in the community; Hollis was always focused on bridging the political divide for the good of all with the goal of leaving his part of the world a better place. Through his selfless service, unwavering integrity, and genuine commitment to the people of Lakeland and Polk County, he accomplished his goal. He loved Lakeland, Anna Maria Island, Lake Glenville, NC, the University of Florida Gators, and especially his family. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, work ethic, and love.

Hollis was preceded in death by his father, Homer Hooks, his mother, Mary Hooks, step- mother, Lois Cowles Harrison, and sister, Helen Gohari of Tampa. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Debbie, children Emily Hooks and Hamilton (Neda) Hooks, his beloved grandchildren Kate Szilvasy, Stella and Hamilton Hooks, and brother, David (Jan Reynolds) Hooks of Clearwater.

A celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 10:00 at First Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for 50 years, and reception immediately following at Lone Palm Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Polk Education Foundation, Camp Brave Heart at Good Shepherd Hospice, Gator Boosters, Inc., and Inheritance of Hope.

For those unable to attend the service will be livestreamed at https://youtube/tQEmNoMkAzQ