Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, James Hoover.
Hoover speaks about his career path that was possible because of the Trust.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 24
Q: What school are you currently attending?
A: I go to Widener University Delaware Law School
Q: When do you graduate?
A: May 2022
Q: What is your major?
A: Juris doctorate, the only major in law school.
Q: How did you decide on that major?
A: After having prelaw in undergrad, I knew I wanted to go to law school and become an attorney. So, these are the steps I have to take to get there.
Q: Do you participate in activities in school? Clubs?
A: Yes! I am a part of the First Generation Law Student Association at Delaware Law School.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Yes, I do competitive weightlifting. It’s called Olympic weightlifting, it’s the same style they do in the Olympics. I was going to try to qualify for nationals in 2022 but due to the pandemic, I am moving that to 2023.
Q: What golf club do you caddie for?
A: Lancaster Country Club
Q: How long have you been caddying?
A: This will be my 7th year.
Q: How did you start caddying?
A: Between high school and college, I needed a summer job. I was detailing cars and hated that. Then, one of my friends told me about how much money you can make caddying so I changed to that pretty quickly.
Q: What is your favorite thing about caddying?
A: The relationships you build with members. I do enjoy watching them play golf but everything beyond the game, such as developing relationships with members that I normally wouldn’t have contact with is great.
Q: How did you hear about J. Wood Platt?
A: I heard about J. Wood Platt through some of the other caddies at work. I’ve heard of caddie scholarships but I’ve never heard about a Trust with endowments like J. Wood Platt has that they give to caddies annually.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years
A: I would say that my long-term goal is to work at a small to mid-size law firm in the Lancaster or Philadelphia area. I am currently am anticipating myself to be practicing some kind of transactional law.
Q: What is something that happened to you while caddying that you will never forget?
A: I will never forget the conversations that Gary Player and I had while I caddied for him this past fall.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self as a caddie or a new caddie just starting?
A: The best advice I would give myself is to always stick with caddying as a summer job and to show up as often as humanly possible and never turn down a loop.
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: Receiving the J. Wood Platt scholarship motivated me to go to law school and has allowed me to make connections I never would have otherwise made through caddying.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The Trust’s mission, which has remained constant since its inception in 1958, is to financially aid deserving caddies in their pursuit of higher education. The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created by GAP through the efforts of then President Walter A. Schmidt; Leo Fraser, President of the local section of Professional Golfers Association of America; and Albert Keeping, Golf Professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club. It was named in honor of Philadelphia’s premier golfer of the era, J. Wood Platt. Not only was Mr. Platt an accomplished player, but he was also the Trust’s co-founder and first contributor.
