15 Questions

Bill Hoover

Bill Hoover has been a campus leader ever since he first came to UH. He has been involved in many organizations and recently ended a term as president of the Interfraternity Council. Hoover was also named this year's Homecoming king and plans to graduate this summer and get married in September.

The Daily Cougar: I know that you are not originally from Houston. Where did you live before you came to Houston?

Hoover: "I was born in Arkansas -- don't hold that against me -- raised most of my life in Tennessee, and went to high school in Cedar Creek, Ohio."

Your major is engineering. What got you interested in that?

"I worked on helicopters as a crew chief mechanic for the Marines. All of my life, I have been pretty mechanical. I took things apart and put them back together."

What are your aspirations after college?

"Hopefully get a job I like, make good money and settle down and start my own family."

You have made some controversial statements about Rice University. What are your feelings about Rice?

"Rice is our bitch. They don't even have an undergraduate business school, which is very lame. We beat them in football and basketball. They are definitely our bitch."

So, does that mean UH is going to beat Rice in baseball?

"Yes."

Have you met anyone famous?

"Yes, Jim Parsons (News editor of The Daily Cougar)."

What was it like being the Interfraternity Council president?

"I thought it was an important role, because at that time the IFC needed a lot of infrastructure -- it was pretty weak. I have a habit that whenever I take something over, I don't like to let go of it until it's exactly the way it's supposed to be. It is a matter of getting in there and making things right. That's just the way I am."

What did it mean to you being this year's Homecoming king?

"It was good for me, because I had time to give back to the University in a different capacity as what I did with my other student leadership roles."

Have you seen Scream 3 yet?

"No, I did not, but I want to."

If you could change one thing about UH, what would it be?

"(I would tell) everyone that has no life to get off their lazy asses and get involved in some student organization and give back to the University."

What has been your best experience here at UH?

"The time (UH football) went to the Liberty Bowl was definitely great."

What is one thing that you have that no one else has?

"I'm a straight shooter. If I like you, you know it, and if I don't like you, you know it."

How have you been a leader on campus?

It all started when I first came to this university and found out that it's hard to meet people if you weren't involved in anything. I still had that yearning for leadership straight out of the Marines. I just got involved in some different organizations."

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

"We are going to a formal dance. My fiancee is flying in from Boston. My fraternity (Phi Kappa Theta) is having their formal dance this Saturday."

Can you name all of the Jackson 5?

"There is obviously Michael, Jermaine ... ugh ... Toto or something. Tito, that is three -- Janet and LaToya."