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Dec. 24--Ann Hooker served food and drinks to her first Chattanooga customer in 1962. Forty-four years later, she has served her last.
Mrs. Hooker, 73, who is well known to many for her British accent, sharp wit and friendly, top-notch service, said she has enjoyed her career but decided that it is time to retire.
"I'm leaving with mixed feelings," she said. "My legs say, 'Thank you.' They know it's time."
Jeff Messinger, owner of Mt. Vernon Restaurant on South Broad Street where Mrs. Hooker brought her career to a close Friday night, said she certainly will be missed.
"You can't replace a gal like Ann," he said. "She's been absolutely delightful to work with. I don't think I've ever met a customer who didn't like her." Former Chattanooga Mayor Robert Kirk Walker was dining at Mt. Vernon Friday night. He said he has known Mrs. Hooker for a number of years and will miss her.
"After her long and faithful service, she certainly deserves a happy retirement," he said.
Mrs. Hooker said she got into the food-service industry by accident.
She was helping out at the Alamo Plaza when it became snowed-in. She picked up a few tables there and realized she had found her life's calling, she said.
"When I got in it, I knew this is what I was meant to do," she said. "If it weren't for these knees, I'd go on another four or five years."
Her first full-time waitressing job was at the Flaming Sword on Chestnut Street, where she worked for about a year, she said. She then spent about seven years at the Holiday Inn on 20th Street before moving to the Black Angus on Cherokee Boulevard, where she worked for 16 years.
She worked at Michael's Cow Palace on Brainerd Road for seven years, one year at the Gazebo on Georgia Avenue, and seven years at Michael's on Brainerd Road before coming to Mt. Vernon.
"It was different because it was a family restaurant," Mrs. Hooker said of the move to Mt. Vernon. "I had always worked clubs where alcohol was served, but it was time to make that kind of change."
Many of the places Mrs. Hooker worked no longer are open, but during her tenure she said she has just about seen it all -- $100 tips, a shooting at the Black Angus and waiting on celebrities including Liberace, Johnny Cash and Hal Holbrook.
"I never did get any autographs. I always felt like it was an intrusion," she said. "I've been very fortunate in that I've met a lot of great people. Waitressing has been very good to me -- very good."
Brian Hooker, Mrs. Hooker's husband of 27 years, said he will be glad to have her home.
"I've been trying for years to get her to quit," he said.
Mrs. Hooker said she doesn't plan to be idle.
She is president of the women's group at Harrison United Methodist Church, where she also serves on the hospitality committee.
She and her husband volunteer at Harrison Elementary School tutoring kindergartners in math and reading, and now they plan to do some traveling.
"I'm not worried about staying busy," she said.
Mr. Messinger said he knows Mrs. Hooker will be missed, not only by the restaurant staff, but also by many customers who come in and eat specifically to see her.
"We're all going to miss her," he said.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
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Copyright (c) 2006, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
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