Bennett Hooks Jr., a partner and CEO of Buford Media Group, has received the
annual 'John Mankin Award' from the Texas Cable & Telecommunications
Association at its annual show in San Antonio.
The award is given in memory of Mankin, the cofounder and first executive
director of the association. It is given in recognition of an executive's
outstanding service to the industry.
Hooks began his cable career as an installer for Daniels & Associates
Inc. in California in 1967, eventually working his way up to vice president of
operations. In 1979, he left that company to form Buford Television Inc. His
current company was formed in 1999.
The association also honored Texas operators for their community affairs
efforts. Time Warner Cable's Waco division earned the top prize, the 'Best of
Texas Kim Curlin Award.' Time Warner's Killeen system got the 'Lone Star Judges
Award' for its support of education in its community.
Other award winners were AT&T Broadband, Dallas; Charter Communications
Inc., Fort Worth; Cox Communications Inc.'s east Texas region, Lubbock, Midland,
Abilene, Lufkin and Nacogdoches systems; Grande Communications; and Time Warner
systems in Beaumont/Port Arthur, El Paso, Houston, Kerrville, Rio Grande Valley
and San Antonio.
