The other 45 senators rose to their feet in applause as ailing Sen. Robert Hooper slowly walked into the chamber Thursday, a day after the Harford County Republican announced his retirement Dec. 31 due toill health.
The Senate, meeting to discuss tax increases in special session, then unanimously passed a resolution honoring Hooper, with additional kind words from his colleagues.
“As my father would say, he?s eaten up with common sense,” said Sen. Thomas Mac Middleton, D-Charles, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee on which Hooper serves. Middleton noted Hooper?s “love of young people,” and he usually got to know the high school seniors who served as Senate pages.
Hooper, 71, who has four children and six grandchildren, also befriended many of the boot camp prisoners who clean and do other chores around the State House, sometimes offering them jobs in the trash hauling business he has owned and operated for 54 years.
“I?ve had the honor of serving with one of the best men that I?ve ever known,” said a choked-up Nancy Jacobs, the other Harford County Republican senator.
“It?s really be a privilege to serve the Harford County,” Hooper told them. Hooper had missed weeks of the General Assembly?s regular session earlier this year due to chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
Last week, as the Senate took up crucial votes, Senate President Thomas Mike Miller allowed Jacobs to vote for Hooper as he listened to the proceedings from the Senate lounge.
Hooper was first elected as a Republican senator in 1998, defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Donald Fry, who is now president of the Greater Baltimore Committee. Hooper served as a Democrat for two terms on the Harford County Council, but he has been a reliable vote for the GOP caucus in the Senate.
In an unusual move Wednesday, Hooper endorsed as his successor Republican Del. Barry Glassman, also a former member of the Harford County Council. Gov. Martin O?Malley will appoint his replacement from a list of nominees made by the Harford County Republican Central Committee.
