The Life And Legacy Of Larry Hoover: From Gang Leader To Reformer

The story of Larry Hoover is one that traverses the complex landscape of crime, power, and redemption. Born on November 30, 1950, in Jackson, Mississippi, Hoover would go on to become a significant figure in Chicago's gang culture. His journey through the streets of Chicago as the leader of the notorious Black Gangster Disciple Nation portrays a narrative filled with ambition, violence, and a quest for control. However, Hoover's life also reflects a more profound transformation as he attempted to shift from a life of crime to one of community development and reform.

Hoover's early years were marked by hardship, leading him into a life of crime at a young age. The turning point in his life came when he founded the Gangster Disciples, a street gang that would later merge with another gang to expand its influence. The dynamic and often brutal world of gang warfare set the stage for Hoover's eventual incarceration, where he would claim a different kind of power among inmates.

Despite his criminal past, Hoover's attempts to reshape the Gangster Disciples into a more community-oriented organization demonstrated his complex personality. His life serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of choices and the possibility of change, even amidst a backdrop of violence and crime.

Biography

Table of Contents

• Who Is Larry Hoover?
• Early Life and Gangster Disciple
• Growth and Development
• Indictment
• Quick Facts

Who Is Larry Hoover?

Larry Hoover grew up in Chicago and became the leader of the Supreme Gangsters, which merged with a rival gang to become the Black Gangster Disciple Nation. In 1973, Hoover was sentenced to 150 to 200 years in prison for killing a drug dealer. Despite attempts to portray himself as reformed, he was indicted in 1995 for continuing to orchestrate gang activity from prison.

Early Life and Gangster Disciple

Larry Hoover, also known as "King Larry," was born on November 30, 1950, in Jackson, Mississippi. His parents moved the family north to Chicago, Illinois, when Hoover was 4 years old. By age 13, he was on the streets with a group called the Supreme Gangsters, engaging in petty crimes such as theft and mugging. His criminal activity soon evolved into shootings and assaults.

Hoover ascended to a leadership role as the Supreme Gangsters grew, and he later joined forces with rival gang kingpin David Barksdale to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation. In 1969, after Barksdale was wounded in a shooting, Hoover took charge of the Gangster Disciples. The gang assumed control of the South Side drug trade, making more than $1,000 a day in profits.

Growth and Development

Hoover, inspired by the biography of Mayor Richard J. Daley, began discouraging violence among his followers. Instead, he made education mandatory for members of the Gangster Disciples and instructed his army to "go to school, learn trades and develop talents and skills, so that we will become stronger in society." Changing the G.D. of "Gangster Disciple" to "Growth and Development," Hoover's move to reform began gaining positive attention from the outside.

Growth and Development created nonprofit organizations that registered voters, a music label that helped needy children, a series of peaceful protests to fight the closing of public programs, and even a clothing line. However, dubious prison officials saw Hoover's good intentions as a ploy to get out of prison and resume his illegal activities.

Indictment

On August 31, 1995, after a five-year undercover investigation by the federal government, Hoover was indicted on drug conspiracy charges. He was taken from his prison cell and moved to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago to stand trial. In 1997, Hoover was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to six life sentences. He is currently serving his sentence at the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado.

Quick Facts

• Name: Larry Hoover
• Birth Year: 1950
• Birth Date: November 30, 1950
• Birth State: Mississippi
• Birth City: Jackson
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Larry Hoover, also known as "King Larry," is the notorious former leader of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation, a Chicago street gang that spread nationwide.
• Industries: Crime and Terrorism
• Astrological Sign: Sagittarius