WHEREAS, Hooker Furnishings Corporation, a multi-faceted furniture business headquartered in Martinsville that is one of the largest publicly traded furniture companies in the nation, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024; and

WHEREAS, Hooker Furnishings Corporation was founded as Hooker-Bassett Furniture in 1924 by Clyde Hooker, Sr., who masterfully led the company into the 1960s by demonstrating great business sense, resiliency, and a willingness to adapt; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Hooker, Jr., the son of founder Clyde Hooker, Sr., joined what is today Hooker Furnishings in 1946, became president in 1960, and assumed the role of chief executive officer in 1966; over his 40-year tenure as a leader of the company, the company grew from $4 million in sales in 1961 to $251 million in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Paul B. Toms, Jr., grandson of founder Clyde Hooker, Sr., became chief executive officer of Hooker Furnishings in 2000 and contributed to the company's expansion by changing its business model and spearheading a number of strategic acquisitions; and

WHEREAS, since 2021, Hooker Furnishings, which was rebranded from Hooker Furniture the same year, has been led by Jeremy Hoff, the company's fourth chief executive and the first to not be a descendent of founder Clyde Hooker, Sr.; and

WHEREAS, through its growth and acquisitions, Hooker Furnishings today encompasses 12 business units and 14 brands, including three domestic upholstery manufacturers, two import upholstery divisions, four import case goods brands, an outdoor division, and two contract furnishings groups; and

WHEREAS, Hooker Furnishings has made an impact in the community through its generous support of various local organizations, including the United Way, and through its Hooker Educational Foundation, which has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to children of company employees since the program's inception in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, for 100 years, Hooker Furnishings has exemplified quality craftsmanship and an unwavering commitment to innovation, creativity, and customer service, building a company that is the pride of Martinsville and the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Hooker Furnishings Corporation hereby be commended on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Hooker Furnishings Corporation as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the company's history and its contributions to the Commonwealth.