Raised by a single mother who loved fishing.  Her mother Dorothy Stormer taught Yolanda (Mz. Hooked) how to fish.  Her mother: bless her soul, had no idea she would give her daughter the best gift a mother could give a child. It’s one of those gifts that truly keeps on giving. The gift you never really think about until you retire. At the age of 5 her mother loved traveling all over Cleveland, Ohio finding all the little water holes she could.  She even ventured into the suburbs of Cleveland.  Of course, Yolanda didn’t know it at the time, but this thing called fishing would be the beginning of a long love affair.

Yolanda, as a young girl hated getting up before the crack of dawn!  Growing up, she always had other interest in school.  If she could join it, she did!  Mz. Hooked was very talented, she sang, played the flute, and joined every conceivable sport activity as possible. When she graduated from John Adams High School, she wanted to keep her grandmothers wish for her to attend college and to make something of herself. 

While in college, Yolanda wanted to be a news anchor.  Well, President Regan at the time had other plans because he cut all her grants that supported this poor little black girl to attend college.  Although, disappointed she didn’t give up.  Yolanda at the time was dedicated and determined and wanted so much more for herself; never giving up the notion to complete her grandmothers wish.  She found other ways to get there until she could complete her college degree.  Deciding to enlist in the military, she had to gain a great career and opportunity to attend college.  She chose the Army, in 1982 in the delayed program, then subsequently enlisted in January of 1983.