James Hooks, age 60, of Huron, SD, died Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at his home. His funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 12, at Huron Baptist Church. Visitation with family present will be Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home; or Monday afternoon one hour prior to the service at the church. James Earl Hooks, son of Queen Esther and James Oscar Hooks, was born on October 23, 1951, in Oklahoma City, OK. He graduated from Jones High School in Jones, OK, and went on to play football for the University of Central Oklahoma from 1969-1972. He was an All-American running back and started all four years. James still holds several records for the University of Central Oklahoma and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. In 1973, he was drafted into the NFL by the Detroit Lions where he played for five years. Following his football career he worked for the post office in Detroit. He moved to Huron in 2005. James was loved and will be missed by many people, including his loving wife, Luvie of Huron; his mother, Queen Esther of Oklahoma City, OK; 3 brothers and 1 sister, Nate Cooper, William Lee, David Cooper and Emma Cooper, all of Oklahoma City, OK; 3 daughters, Zenia (Lou) Lanier of Huron, SD, Dacia Hooks of Oklahoma City, OK, and Holl'e Hooks of Maryland; 4 sons, Michael Williams of Huron, SD, Kim (Kelly) Hooks of Maple Valley, WA, Lorenzo (Arynne) Williams of Huron, SD, and Gordon (Kelli) Hooks of Huron, SD; 16 grandchildren, Leondis, Luvie, Marquita, Latavia, Zaniyah, Addysen, Brianna, Isiah, Julius, LadyShimaray, Lorenzo Jr., Lynden, Leah, Hayden, Brevan, and Kenli; 4 great-grandchildren, Davonte', Lewis, Makiya, and Leyonna; and 4 close friends, Ernest Reid, Dwight Ponder, Fredrick Ray, and Irvin Howard. He was preceded in death by his father.