Thomas E. Hook, superintendent of schools at Troy, Ohio, has brought to his labors a natural aptitude for his work, a splendid enthusiasm and an unfailing store of energy that have combined to make him one of the most popular and most result attaining men who have ever occupied this office. He is a native of Holmes county, Ohio, born in 1880, a son of B. F. and Rosetta (Watson) Hook, and a grandson on the maternal side of a Union soldier of the Civil war. His father was a merchant in Holmes county and the early edification of the youth was acquired at Holmesville, following which he attended Ohio Northern College at Ada, at intervals from I903 to 1908. He was graduated in the latter year, in civil engineering, and since that time has attended the Ohio State University and Miami University, during the summer sessions of 1913 and 1914, and has also specialized in school administration work at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from which institution he has secured the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. Likewise Mr. Hook has worked on land survey and spent two years in Government geological survey in southeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Mr. Hook began teaching school in Holmes county, where he was thus engaged for six years, being superintendent of schools at Versailles for three years and principal of the Versailles schools two years. He next was elected principal of the high school for two years and superintendent of schools at South Haven, Mich., for three years, following which he came to Troy, in 1919, succeeding Mr. Cookson as superintendent of schools. Mr. Hook possesses pronounced ideas in regard to school curriculum and has introduced a number of innovations since assuming the duties of his present position, included among them, courses in public speaking, community civics, occupational training and musical programs. He has fostered the latter in raising funds for special equipment, and these have met with decided success, the junior high school program netting $265, another musical program $380 and the high school minstrels $425. The art exhibit realized $300 and the proceeds of this were expended in securing suitable pictures for the schools. The proceeds of the other entertainments have been used in securing special equipment for the schools not regularly provided for, among these being a Brunswick phonograph and records, teachers' reference library, playground apparatus, etc. Three effective parent teachers' associations were organized in the fall of 1920 that have proved to be decided assets to the welfare of the school and the children in securing greater co-operative work from the parents and the teachers. A complete and thorough medical inspection of all pupils in the elementary grades and high school was urged by him and approved by the board of edification. This work was carried out by a very competent woman physician from Cincinnati with the hearty assistance of the local physicians. It is also the ambition of Mr. Hook to equip thoroughly all playgrounds with apparatus and to introduce educational moving pictures in the schools, having a distinctive program each week. His work has proven decidedly popular with school authorities, public officials, parents and pupils and has done much to elevate the educational standard at Troy. Mr. Hook is a member of the National Educational Association and is a Mason. During the war period, while a resident of South Haven, Mich., he was a member of the war board as well as of all committees which embraced the work of schools in war activities. Mr. Hook married Miss Bess Roop, of Versailles, a graduate (1908) of Ohio Wesleyan University and formerly a popular school teacher of Versailles. They are the parents of one child, Robert Thomas.