In New Orleans, Louisiana in 1951, Nicholas Hood III was born into the steam y, segregated south. Like many Detroiters, he and his family migrated north in 1958. Rev. Hood attended Doty, Winterhalter and Chrysler Elementary schools. He graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1969. While in high school he founded
and led a popular dance band called “The Seven Sounds.” After graduating from Wayne State University in 1973 with a degree in economics, Hood pursued an obtained a Master of Divinity Degree from Yale University in 1976.
After graduating from Yale, he returned to Detroit to work with his Father, the Rev. Nicholas Hood, Sr. as Associate Minster of the Plymouth United Church of Christ. After an eight-year tenure as associate pastor, Nicholas Hood III was called to be the senior pastor of the Plymouth United Church of Christ in 1984, where he serves presently. Under his pastoral leadership the church has grown in several ways - new members, financially and its mission agenda. Last year Plymouth United Church of Christ spent over $60,000 for local, national and international missions. This includes: free computers for high achieving youth who live in the medical center area of Detroit, Hurricane Katrina assistance, free overnight camp for inner city youth, a medical mission in Ethiopia, and much more.
Community Service has always been a part of the life of Nicholas Hood, III. In the late seventies, he served the NAACP as a member of the executive Board of Directors and as the Young Adult Committee Chairman. He has served as a member of several boards of directors including: The Children’s Aid Society; The 13th district Democratic Organization; WTVS Channel 50; The Occupational Council for the State of Michigan; President of the Plymouth Non-Profit Housing Corporation; and the Plymouth Educational Center and Foundation; President of the Booker T. Washington Business Association for two terms; and a member of Detroit Chamber of Commerce executive board. He was also a member of the Advisory Board for the Cornerstone Schools and The Jewish Vocational Services, and as a member of the Rehabilitation Institute Board of Directors. Currently, Rev. Hood sits on three boards: Yale Divinity School Board of Alumni Affairs where he serves as its secretary, the SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Tomorrow’s Child Board of Directors, and Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
In 1993, Nicholas Hood III was elected to the Detroit City Council and was reelected to the City Council for a second four-year term. As a member of the Detroit City Council, he authored an ordinance entitled, “The Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance;” hosted a weekly radio show on WCHB entitled, “Eyes on Government;” created the funding for the City Council to be televised five days per week on cable TV; was arrested for supporting the striking newspaper workers; and challenged Detroiters to stop shooting guns on New Year’s Eve with a citywide effort called, “Ring in The New Year With A Bell, Not A Bank.”
In 2001, Nicholas Hood stepped down from the Detroit City Council to run for mayor. Although that effort was unsuccessful, his campaign energized many in the city to envision a community of prosperity, inclusiveness, and unparallel quality of life. Rev. Hood currently does a monthly political commentary on radio station WDET and during the elections of 2005 did on air political commentary and analysis for WDIV, WXYZ, WJLB and WDET.
Currently, the Rev. Nicholas Hood III is in the 29th year of marriage to the Honorable Denise Page Hood and together they have two sons. He lives by the words of Jesus, "to those whom much is given, much is required."
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