Forest Van Hook

Forest Clyde Van Hook (December 3, 1883 After graduating from Mount Pulaski, Van Hook entered the University of Illinois and became a top football and track athlete while also being a top student.

Van Hook was a member of the freshman football team at Illinois in 1905 and then was a starter on the varsity from 1906 to 1908; a 6 ft 0 in, 295 lb right guard, he gained a reputation as one of the best guards in school history. He was three times selected to the All-Western team and three times was a third-team All-American selection (including by Walter Camp in 1908), despite their being at the time a bias against players from western schools. Prominent sportswriter Walter Eckersall, in choosing Van Hook to his All-Western team, stated that he was so talented that he could have played any position on the field and still would have made the team. He returned to his hometown of Mount Pulaski in 1914, continuing to practice medicine for the rest of his life. Van Hook kept an interest in his alma mater's athletics, often persuading others to play football and basketball there. He attended many Illinois games and always bought two tickets due to his large size.

Van Hook was married and had four children. He died on January 29, 1937, of complications from diabetes.