Charles Hooper
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Professor Charles Hooper came to the University of Florida in 1963 and became a selfless advocate of the development of the Physics Department over the next 39 years. As Chairman from 1979 -1986, he initiated a new phase of growth in the Department through his statewide Microfabritech program. This provided the basis and incentive for subsequent growth and improvements, initiated and facilitated by him. His advice, vision, and unwavering support of the Department is sorley missed, as is his cheerful and optimistic presence in the hallways.
Chuck, as he was known to his friends, was born in Cambridge, MA, in 1932 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1954. He served two years in the U.S. Navy before attending graduate school at Johns Hopkins University. He received the Ph. D. in 1963 and was appointed as Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. During these first years at UF he worked on plasma physics problems related to spectral line broadening. In particular, he was noted for the first quantitative prediction of electric field distributions in plasmas required for analysis of hydro genic spectra in laboratory and astrophysics observations. He also graduated his first of seventeen Ph.D. students at this time. During the early 1970's he recognized the importance of laser fusion and became a strong advocate of US investment in this ares at the national laboratories. He became a leader in this field, through his continning work on spectroscopy as the primary diagnostic tool for laser - produced plasmas.
As a supporter of laser physics Chuck has served on several advisory panels at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratories during the past two decades. He also was co-organizer of a series of conferences on atomic processes in dense plasmas. His most recent research has been in collaboration with the University of Rochester Laser Laboratory where he designed and analyzed experiments on laser produced plasmas. Since 1974 the Department of Energy, until he passes away, continuously supported his research.
Chuck participated in a period of growth in the Department during the 1960's, with many new appointments being made under a Centers of Excellence grant Even as an Assistant Professor, he led many of the new initiatives. This was followed by a period of recession in physics at the University of Florida and elsewhere in the 1970's. Chuck led the recovery, setting new directions and new levels of expectation as Chairman from 1979 -1986. Limited resources did not imply limited vision for him. Instead, much of his excitement stemmed from the ability to think on a scale beyond what seemed possible and then to generate the enthusiasm and necessary ingredients for realization oflong range goals. His most significant success as Chairman was the establishment of the cross disciplinary Microfabritech program, which brought significant funds and faculty lines to many departments at both at UF and FSU. The Distinguished Service Award from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in 2000 recognized him as founder and former director of that program.
Chuck Hooper's ambitions for the Physics Department affected the careers of faculty, staff, and students alike. Along the way strong personal bonds of affection, beyond appreciation and gratitude, were established as well. These memories will persist for a long time, as will the impact of his deeds.
Professor Hooper died in 2002, leaving his wife, Renate, two daughters and five grandchildren. Through the generosity of his friends, colleagues and family, a fund was quickly set up in his honor and presented yearly to an outstanding graduate student.