Kenneth N. Hoover

A life-long military artifacts collector, Ken Hoover organized a military historical display in 2003 to help various non-profit groups celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the French and Indian War. The museum-quality exhibit won the National Educational Award at the Collector’s Cup Competition held in Pittsburgh in the spring of 2004.  As a result, Ken’s collection quickly became a highly sought after exhibit in various communities along Forbes road, from Pittsburgh to Carlyle Pennsylvania. The exhibit has been on-tour for the past eleven years, making appearances in several communities, including: Fort Pitt, Venango County Historical Society, Kittanning Tourist Bureau, Old-Town Bedford, Cumberland County Historical Society and the Lorenzo Cultural Center for the Historical Society of Michigan.

The Exhibit, circa 1756 – 1783 is titled: “William Thompson:  Forgotten Patriot” and is focused on the career of William Thompson, First Colonel of the United States Army and later Brigadier General in the American Revolution. Ken is a direct decenant of William Thompson. Thompson’s Rifle Regiment will later be re-designated the First Continental Regiment. The exhibit follows Thompson’s military career from a young Lieutenant in 1756 at the beginning of the French and Indian War to Captain of the Light Horse and General Forbes’ personal Body Guard in 1757. The exhibit also covers his civilian career as an entrepreneur, surveyor and legislator from 1758-1774.

In the past few years, because of additional family research, the exhibit has expanded to include the years 1784 to 1812. Both the sons and the grandson of William Thompson were involved in the Ohio Country Wars, which follow the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.   As a result the new exhibit is titled, “The 60 Year War for American Freedom, 1754-1814"

Biography:  Kenneth N. Hoover

• L’Anse Creuse Public School Board Trustee, Past President, 2003 to Present

• Macomb County Cultural Advisory Committee Member, Lorenzo Cultural Center, since opening in 2006 to present

• Past Anton Regional Art Center Trustee

• Past Regional Scholastic Arts Chairman

• Art & History consulting, 2000 to present

- Detroit Institute of Arts   

-   Macomb Intermediate School District

-   Michigan Art Education Association

• Display / Lecture

-   Numerous DAR and SAR Chapters

-   Local libraries

-   Historical organizations across the US

-   The NRA’s National Collectors Cup Competitions, 2000-2011

• Instructor, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, and Macomb Community College, 1999 – 2012

   

Ken is a 1959 graduate of Ellwood City’s Lincoln High School.  He was the first youth accepted into the Ellwood City Art Club and won numerous local awards while in high school. 

He was also a 4 year Letterman on the Ellwood City track team and qualified for the WPIAL Athletic Finals. 

He has a BS from Bob Jones University, a MA from Eastern Michigan University, and an EDS from Wayne State University. 

In 1972 Ken’s students won more national Scholastic awards and scholarships than any school in the nation. He became the district Visual Arts Coordinator in the early seventies of L’Anse Cruese Public Schools. The art ciriculum became a model for the state and was given exemplary status by the State of Michigan in 1990. He became a trainer for the State of Michigan for the New Definition of the Arts.

• District Teacher of the Year, 1982 & 1992

• State Finalist for Teacher of the Year, 1992

• Distinguished Service Award from the Art Education Assocation, 1990

In addition to his teaching, Ken coached a variety of sports for over 30 years.

• L’Anse Creuse High School Coach; 1964 – 1999

-   State Track Coach of the Year, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983

-   Macomb County Coaches Hall of Fame, 2004

-   Two State of Michigan track championships, 1982 & 1983

-   Eleven individual state champion athletes  

 

Dr. Rob Guy, Ken's nephew, has been helping him organize and display the above mentioned exhibit for the past several years.  He is a past member of Lillyville Church of God and a 1982 graduate of Riverside High School.  Rob is currently working on a Ph.D. in Aberdeen Scotland after winning an international Gen. Hugh Mercer scholarship. Rob also has a Doctor of Divinity and four masters’ degrees.  They are currently working on a book that parallels the research of the exhibit.