Gender Male
History. In 1879, eight physicians, led by P.O. Hooper of Little Rock, each invested $625 to secure a charter for a medical school from Arkansas Industrial University (which later became the University of Arkansas).Of all native born Arkansans who have achieved greatness, none stand out brighter than Philo Oliver Hooper. He did not graduate from an
Arkansas medical school because none existed when he needed to attend. So he founded one.
Dr. Hooper came from a staunch family of early settlers. His father, Alanson Hooper, was born in Massachusetts in 1787, and after reaching manhood moved to Louisiana, where he married Miss Magdaline Perry, a native of the state. In 1829, they moved to Little rock, Ark., where their son and only child, Philo Oliver, was born October 11, 1833. His father died at age 63 in 1850, and upon his mother fell the stern duty of rearing, providing for and guiding the son. Without any of the advantages of wealth or influence to aid him, he developed an amiable character of such sterling worth as to acquire the goodwill of the whole community. After completing the scant education available locally, he first entered business at the age of 16 as deputy in the post office. After a few years of hard work and frugal living, he pursued his literary education at Nashville University in Nashville, Tenn. Returning home, he secured the chief clerkship in the drug establishment of Dr. William W. Adams. At the same time he began the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr. Lorenzo Gibson, Sr., which he pursued with great diligence and success. As soon as practical he continued his study at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1856. Immediately, he was admitted to full partnership with his mentor, Dr. Gibson, and rapidly won acclaim among his professional associates and throughout the state of Arkansas. From that time for the next half century, whenever anything significant happened in Arkansas medicine, P. O. Hooper was there.
