What a Great Honor

Guest Opinion by Perry Hooper Jr.

There are moments in a father’s life when pride runs so deep that words hardly seem sufficient. Having my son, Davis Hooper, recognized among Auburn University’s 20 Under 40 is one of those moments. To receive this honor from a university that means so much to our family makes it especially meaningful, and I could not be prouder.

As a dad, you want your children to find their purpose, put their talents to work and build something they can be proud of. Watching Davis pursue his own path through Hooper Homes has been a tremendous joy. In the homebuilding business, the work carries a special responsibility because a home is where families put down roots, raise their children and make the memories that last a lifetime. There is something deeply rewarding about seeing your son take on that responsibility and earn recognition along the way.

Davis founded Hooper Homes in Auburn in 2016 and serves as its owner, president and project manager. A former Auburn football player, he went from representing his university on the field to building homes in the community that helped shape his life. As his father, I see a meaningful connection between those pursuits. Football teaches you that preparation matters, your teammates depend on you and success requires doing your job even when the work is difficult. Those lessons have lasting value when you put your own name on a business and accept responsibility for its success.

At Hooper Homes, Davis has embraced a philosophy of quality over quantity, emphasizing personalized custom homes and close communication with the families who will live in them. He personally guides clients through each phase of construction, working with architects and designers to help bring their ideas to life. That personal involvement means a great deal to me because building a home requires trust. Families are placing their savings, their dreams and an important part of their future in a builder’s hands, and that trust deserves attention and care.

The company’s work includes projects in Chapel Heights, Quail Chase, The Arbors and Carmela Court, along with homes at Lake Martin. These are places where families will gather around dinner tables, welcome friends, celebrate holidays and watch their children grow. When I think about what Davis is building, those are the things that come to mind. The plans and construction are essential, but the lasting purpose of a home is the life a family creates inside it.

One customer testimonial from the Wright family captures something that makes me especially proud. Along with praising the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail, they described Davis as “a gifted, hard working, faith-filled gentleman.” A father treasures words like those because they speak to the person behind the business. It is wonderful to see your son’s work appreciated, and it means even more when the people he serves recognize his character.

For all the responsibilities that come with running Hooper Homes, Davis also has the blessings and responsibilities of a family of his own. He and his wife, his high school sweetheart, are raising three children in Auburn. He coaches his children’s recreational sports, is active in his church and hosts a weekly small-group fellowship at his office. Seeing him make room for his family, his faith and the people around him gives this dad every bit as much pride as his professional accomplishments.

What makes this moment so special is knowing that he is making his own mark. A father can offer encouragement and advice, but his son must do the work, make the decisions and accept the responsibilities that come with building a business. Davis has taken those steps himself, and watching him build Hooper Homes while raising his family has been one of the great joys of my life. To see those efforts recognized by Auburn is a blessing that I will always treasure.

Congratulations, Davis, and congratulations to everyone receiving this recognition. Thank you to Auburn for celebrating the accomplishments of its young alumni and giving this proud dad another reason to say War Eagle! Whatever honors the future brings, being your father will always be one of the greatest honors of my life.

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a longtime Alabama Republican figure, former Alabama Legislator and Montgomery businessman. He served as Co-Chair of “Alabama Trump Victory” in 2016, and served as an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. He is a noted civic leader in Montgomery with deep family roots in Alabama’s legal and political history.

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