Dispatch Center Ltd. announced that its president, Rodney Hooker died May 8, 2018 after battling cancer for several years.

The company stated that Hooker was larger than life, and he loved hunting and the outdoors. He had a unique wit and way of cutting to the heart of things and had a deep appreciation for Lone Star Beer.

Rodney Hooker began his career in the security industry in 1987, working as an alarm installer for a UL-listed alarm company in the Dallas area. 

He started his central station career in early 1988 working for one of the largest central stations in the U.S. at the time. He managed the construction of two other branch central stations in Texas and helped in the first live networking of three active redundant UL-listed central stations. He was the president of Dispatch Center from September 2004 to April 2018.

Rodney Hooker became a member of the Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) more than 27 years ago and was honored as the 2009 TBFAA Person of the Year. Rodney served TBFAA as president for four years, vice president for four years, legislative chair for eight years and board member 12 years. He also served on the alarm management committee for the Texas Chief of Police Association. He worked with the Private Security Bureau to allow CEU credits for attendance at qualified membership meetings. Hooker’s accomplishments include helping to form the TBFAA chapters in the Rio Grande Valley and Central Texas.

As the TBFAA Legislative chair and vice president, Hooker’s efforts representing TBFAA in Austin have earned him awards and letters of appreciation from the Department of Public Safety. Hooker worked tirelessly with the Private Security Bureau to deal with unlicensed alarm sales in Texas.

He was an active member of all of the local associations in Texas for the last 27 years and held the office of president for the North Texas Alarm Association. As president of the Dallas County Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (Which became the NTAA), he led the fight to allow a special conversion period for the alarm industry to convert from seven-digit to 10-digit dialing plan. Rodney also helped to form the Gulf Coast Alarm Association that ultimately merged to become the Houston Gulf Coast Alarm Association.

In the late 80s and early 90s, he actively worked on the RBOC issue in Washington, D.C., including many trips to D.C. to lobby legislators in person.

He is survived by his wife Sue Ellen Hooker, step-sons Daniel and his wife Tracy Glenney, and Patrick and his wife Jackie Glenney, his step-grandchildren Robert, Morgan, Michael, Aidan and Lorna. He is also survived by his brother Ray Hooker, best friend Stan Matcek and a host of friends.