Jim Hopson

{{Short description|Canadian football player (1951–2024)}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}}

{{use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox CFL biography

|name=Jim Hopson

|team=

|image=JimHopsonRiders.JPG

|alt=

|caption=Hopson in 2010

|status=

|import=no

|position1=guard

|position2=offensive tackle

|birth_date={{birth date|1951|3|1}}

|birth_place=Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

|death_date={{death date and age|2024|4|2|1951|3|1}}

|death_place=

|number=

|amateur_title=CJFL

|amateur_team=Regina Rams

|high_school=Thom Collegiate

|Height_ft=

|Height_in=

|Weight_lbs=

|playing_years1=1973–1976

|playing_team1=Saskatchewan Roughriders

|career_highlights=

|CFL=

|CFHOF=jim-hopson

|CFHOFYear=2019

}}

James Douglas Hopson[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/31117568/james-douglas-hopson James Douglas Hopson] obituary (March 1, 1951 – April 2, 2024) was a Canadian professional football player and executive. After playing as an offensive lineman, he served as the president and chief executive officer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Hopson served in the latter role from 2005 until 2014.{{cite web|title=Saskatchewan Roughriders Administration |url=http://www.saskriders.com/page/administration |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |access-date=August 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816023553/http://www.saskriders.com/page/administration |archive-date=August 16, 2010|url-status=dead }} Under his stewardship, the Roughriders captured the Grey Cup in 2007 and 2013, and the team recorded record profits.{{cite web|title=Roughriders announce record profit of $3.1 million|url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010/06/19/roughriders-announce-record-profit/|work=National Post|date=June 19, 2010 |access-date=August 10, 2010|author=Hamilton, Ian}}

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Hopson was involved with football in Saskatchewan for much of his life. He played high school football for Thom Collegiate in Regina, and then joined the Regina Rams to play junior football. After completing his junior career, Hopson joined the Roughriders in 1973. He became a starter on the offensive line for the Roughriders in 1974, when his career overlapped with Roughrider greats Ron Lancaster and George Reed. During 1975 and 1976, Hopson played professional football while teaching in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. After the 1976 Grey Cup, which Saskatchewan lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders, Hopson retired to focus on his teaching career.

Hopson graduated from the University of Regina with a degree in education and went on to receive a master's degree from the University of Oregon. Divorced with two grown children, as of September 2010, he was engaged to marry Brenda Edwards.{{cite news|title=Roaring Prairie success |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/roaring-prairie-success/article1696238/ |newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=September 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907000725/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/roaring-prairie-success/article1696238/ |archive-date=September 7, 2010}} In 2021, Hopson was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He died from the disease on April 2, 2024, at the age of 73.{{cite news |first=Drew|last=Postey|title=Jim Hopson, former Sask. Roughriders president and CEO has died |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/former-roughriders-president-and-ceo-jim-hopson-has-died-1.6831821 |access-date=3 April 2024 |publisher=CTV News |date=3 April 2024}}