MCKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Donald Hooton Sr., founder of an anti-steroids advocacy foundation that worked with Major League Baseball, has died. He was 76.
The Taylor Hooton Foundation said on Wednesday that
Hooton died at his home in McKinney, Texas, on Tuesday.
Hooton created the foundation with his wife, Gwen, in 2003 following the suicide of his youngest son, Taylor, at 17.
Members of the foundation have spoken directly to over 3 million people the past 23 years through educational programs across the country about the dangers of anabolic steroids and dietary supplements.
“Don Hooton was a tireless advocate for educating young people about the dangers of performance and appearance-enhancing drugs,” MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred said in a statement. “For more than two decades, Major League Baseball was proud to partner with Don and his family in advancing this important mission."
A former Hewlett-Packard executive, Hooton appeared as an expert witness before a U.S. Congressional committee in its investigation of the use of anabolic steroids in Major League Baseball in 2005. Major leaguers Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco also appeared before the committee.
In 2014, the foundation formed an MLB-endorsed advisory board of active major-league players, which now includes representatives from all 30 MLB teams.
“Today was a great loss,' said New York Yankees President Randy Levine, an executive board member of the foundation. "Don was a very special man who singularly brought the surge of steroids to the public’s attention. He showed great courage and strength while mourning the loss of his son, Taylor, and will be remembered forever as a fighter for young people’s health.”
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