Benjamin Hooks

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Benjamin Hooks
Hooks in the 1970s
Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
In office 1977–1992
Preceded by	Roy Wilkins (Executive Secretary)
Succeeded by	Benjamin Chavis
Personal details
Born	(1925-01-31)January 31, 1925 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	April 15, 2010(2010-04-15) (aged 85) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting place	Elmwood Cemetery
Spouse	Frances Dancy
Children	1
Relatives	Julia Britton Hooks (parental grandmother)
Education	LeMoyne-Owen College Howard University (BA) DePaul University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1944–1945
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Battles/wars	World War II

Benjamin Lawson Hooks (January 31, 1925 – April 15, 2010) was an American civil rights leader and government official. A Baptist minister and practicing attorney, he served as executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1977 to 1992.

Throughout his career, Hooks was a vocal campaigner for civil rights in the United States, and served from July 5, 1972 – July 25, 1977 as the first African American member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).^[1]