Hockers to be honored as Sussex County Distinguished Citizens Nov. 5

The Del-Mar-Va Council, Scouting America recently announced Gerald and Emily Hocker as the recipients of the 2025 Sussex County Distinguished Citizens Award. They will be honored at a ceremony set for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Hocker Family Restaurant in Ocean View. This award honors Sussex County leaders who have wide influence in the business and professional community while serving as exemplary role models for area youth. Bobby Willey, Hocker’s Super Center general manager, is the event committee chair. 

The Hockers have established and operated multiple businesses together during their 55-year marriage. Those enterprises include G&E Supermarket and G&E Hardware in Ocean View as well as Hocker’s Grocery & Deli and Hocker’s Super Center in Clarksville, and Hocker’s Family Restaurant in Ocean View. Their business success provides employment for hundreds of Sussex County residents as well as young seasonal workers who come to this area from abroad each summer.

The Hockers are lifelong residents of Sussex County, where they raised their five children. Emily is a graduate of Indian River High School. Gerald graduated from Lord Baltimore High School and the University of Delaware with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. They attend the Ocean View Church of Christ.

Emily and Gerald never allowed their achievements to come at the expense of their values. The couple has always maintained a reputation for honesty and quality in all their business dealings, and giving back to the community has been a consistent priority for them. They founded the Springtime Jamboree, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the community since 1982. Benefiting nonprofits have included the Lower Sussex Little League; Lord Baltimore, Fenwick Island and Selbyville-Indian River Lions Clubs; Millville Fire Company; Delaware Hospice; Pop Warner Football; River Soccer Club; and Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company. For several years, Gerald was the honorary chair of the Progress for Prostate Charity Golf Tournament that benefits Beebe Medical Center's Free Prostate Screening and Community Awareness Program. He is a recipient of the Ideal of Service Award from the Southern Sussex Rotary Club. Three years ago, Emily was inducted into Indian River High School’s Hall of Fame.

The Sussex County Distinguished Citizen Award has been given to many notable community leaders, including Pete and Carol Schwartzkopf; Wm. Jack Riddle; Patricia Campbell-White; Alexander J. Pires Jr.; Michael H. Vincent; Joseph, Christopher and Preston Schell; Thomas R. Brown; Dale Dukes; Ellen A. Bahtiarian, MD, and Gregory Bahtiarian, DO; and Joe Hudson. Council members are proud to have Gerald and Emily join this esteemed group of leaders.

Funds raised by this event support a variety of scouting programs including workforce development, support for low-income youth, STEM projects, conservation programs and much more. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

For more information, go to delmarvacouncil.org/sussex or contact Andrea Brock at abrock@dmvc.org or 302-622-3300.