Biography Page

Jerald LeVon Hoover
Author: "The Hero Series"
"He Was My Hero Too"

Jerald LeVon Hoover was born December 3, 1965 in Bronx , New York . He first started writing while in the fourth grade, but started his novel October 17, 1983. The purpose of his writing was to inspire everyone, particularly young people, to steer clear of drugs and alcohol.

The reason Jerald came up with this idea was marred with tragedy. Having watched his drug and alcohol abusing father wither away to almost nothing, made him undertake the vision to inspire everyone to “Just Say No”. In the process, Jerald has won several awards, one from the Literary Society in Hampton , Virginia and the other from President Bill Clinton's Writers Corp.

Unfortunately, there were more tragedies that Jerald had to endure because of substance abuse. He has lost several family members on his father's side. As follows:

• His grandfather in 1967, to alcohol related poisoning at the age of 45.

• His aunt (one of two sisters), in 1986 to alcohol related poisoning at the age of 46 (she weighed approximately 65 pounds at the time of her death)

• His father eventually died in 1989 at the age of 43.

• His second aunt died in 1987, to alcohol related poisoning, just three months to the day of her husband's death; a 47 year old man, who was once robust and rugged, weighing nearly 300 pounds, wasted away to a mere 150 pounds because of alcohol poisoning. When she died at age 46 she weighed 70 pounds.

• Finally, his grandmother who had out lived them all died at 63 years old, also from alcohol poisoning. Since her death, he has lost more paternal family members: two first cousins from AIDS – they were sharing needles with other drug addicts, neither of them reached their 40 th birthday.

Jerald LeVon Hoover indeed has a story to tell. Having been reared in the church (he is a lifelong member of the United House of Prayer for all People) he was taught and directed at an early age to know the difference between right and wrong. Thus, he has put the pressure on himself to stay sober and strong, he offers no excuse to become involved with drugs and alcohol.

Jerald LeVon Hoover cares very much for the state of the young people of today and tomorrow. Having grown up in a single parent household in the projects of Bronx and Mount Vernon , New York and being the older brother to two sisters (one he lived with and the other from his father's second marriage). Jerald is well versed in the trails and tribulation of the modern day teen. His book is not only a powerful message, but it is also a study guide with essay questions and topics for discussion.

Now, with his vision finally a reality, Jerald frequently visits schools and churches. He is a Boy's Club mentor, a member of Concerned Black Men, and a freelance writer for several sports columns via Internet and a local community newspaper. In his visits to schools and churches, Jerald often conveys a message of hope to the students. He constantly exhorts them to stay as far away from drugs as possible, and to stay in school and strive for as much as they can. Last but not least, he pleads with them to avoid the pitfalls of peer pressure and to learn how to be led in a position directed by their own minds. Having never gotten high or drunk himself, Jerald enjoys the essence of sobriety.

Jerald is a musician in church; he has been playing his trombone for over 37 years . He is also a Sunday school teacher and an aspiring minister at 43 years of age. Jerald is a dedicated father and very often serves as coach or manager for the Little League, track and basketball teams his 17- year-old son Jordan plays on. Jerald has started a non-profit organization called, The Write Mind Foundation to help inner city youth with literacy.

Jerald L. Hoover,
CEO / President