Don Hooton at a local high school
(Dallas Morning News Photo)
Six weeks after his son’s death,
Don Hooton stood before
600 people at Plano West
High School and spoke about the insidious
dangers of steroids.
Taylor Hooton, a pitcher at Plano West,
was 17 when he took his own life in July
2003. Along with experts, Don and his wife,
Gwen, members of Prestonwood since
2000, believe Taylor’s death stemmed from
the depression he felt after he stopped taking
steroids.
But in their pain a ministry was born,
touching people around
the world—all because a
grieving dad put himself in God’s
hands. Don established the Taylor
Hooton Foundation in 2004 to fight the
abuse of steroids and other performance-enhancing
drugs.
“My message to the people of Prestonwood
is one that we’ve heard many times,” Don
said, “but it is so true: God can take an ordinary
person and do extraordinary things if
you will just allow Him.”
Over the past four years, Don has talked
with anyone who would listen. And though
he’s never sought publicity, Don has
received calls from local, national and international
journalists. And after telling Taylor’s
story on 60 Minutes, Don received a call
from a Drug Enforcement Administration
agent and fellow Christian who promised
he’d do something about steroids. A year
and a half later, in San Diego, the agent led
the largest steroid bust in history. Don has
also worked with the Lt. Governor of Texas
to pass legislation implementing a mandatory
random steroid testing program for
high school athletes.
God opens doors daily, Don said, as calls
have continued, including those from
former Sen. George Mitchell and Baseball
Commissioner Bud Selig. When Sen. Mitchell
released his report on performance-enhancing
drugs in Major League Baseball
in December, Don sat in the front row.
“I couldn’t have dreamed or envisioned any
of this,” Don said. “I’ve learned that everything
happens on God’s timetable. He may
not answer me today, but He comes back
and answers with something bigger than I
ever could have imagined.”
