ALUMNI IN ACTION

Featuring John Hooper

Many alumni think of NMSD as their home away from home and we hold them in a very special place in our hearts. NMSD is a place where they grew up, gained an education, made life-long friends, and built happy memories. Below, John Hooper shares about his time as an NMSD student and what he is up to currently.

What year did you enroll at NMSD and where are you from? I enrolled in 1968 when I was 5 years old and I'm originally from Hobbs but we officially moved to Santa Fe in 1969.

Who were your best friends while at school? My best friends were Tommy Morrow and Kenny Reitz. We were all hard of hearing and they loved to tease, pull tricks, and joke around with other students and staff. I was the serious one and afraid of getting caught or in trouble and didn’t want to take the risk. We also played basketball and other sports just about every day.

What were your favorite subjects while at NMSD? My favorite subjects were math and social studies. Who were your favorite teachers or staff members and why? There were many that I admired but my favorite teachers were Roz Eisenburg and Edna “Eddy” Edwards. They both inspired me to work hard academically, and they were tough!!

What are your fondest memories while a student at NMSD? My fondest memory at NMSD was when I played on the Middle School’s “C” team and we won the Santa Fe small school division basketball championship game in 1977. That was the same year that the Varsity “A” boys’ basketball team won the Western States Basketball classic in California.

What year did you graduate from NMSD? I graduated from NMSD in 1982.

After you graduated, what college did you attend and what did you major in? I attended the New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs where I received an AA degree in Physical Education in 1984. I then moved on to the University of New Mexico (UNM) and got my BA degree in Business Economics in 1988.

In what ways have you stayed connected with NMSD? I’ve stayed connected to NMSD by attending football and basketball games. I also officiated (referee) several basketball games for NMSD teams. I always attend various alumni events and reunions that are held at NMSD. A couple years ago, at the New Mexico State Legislature, I participated in a protest on a bill that would have hurt NMSD. Another major connection to NMSD were my parents (now deceased). They were very involved as I was growing up. My dad, Gailen Hooper, was the first parent by state statute to be appointed to the Board of Regents in 1980 by Governor Bruce King. He was also the President of NMSD’s Parents and Teachers Association during the 1970’s. My mom, Shirley Hooper-Garcia, former NM Secretary of State, was a den mother in the early 1970’s, on the Board of Regents in mid-2000’s, as well as on NMSD’s Foundation Board.

What are you currently up to in your life? I retired in 2014 after working for 25 years in New Mexico’s State Government. I worked for four different state agencies including the State Land Office, the Department of Transportation, the Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NMCDHH), and my last state job was at the Public Regulation Commission.

Currently I’m serving on the Board for the NMCDHH, appointed by Governor Lujan-Grisham. I am also the President of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Santa Fe chapter, and I officiate middle and high school basketball games.