Jim Hopson will always be known as a father, friend, educator and a fierce supporter of football in Saskatchewan.
“He was kind, intelligent, and just a super good friend,” Fred LaClaire said before Hopsin’s celebration of life Friday. LaClaire spent many years working with Hopsin in the education system.
Hopson passed away on April 2, at the age of 73 after a three-year battle with colon cancer.
“It’s honestly hard to believe he is no longer here,” Hopson’s son Tyler said Friday. “He was such a larger-than-life person, it was so easy to feel like he would always be with us.”
“His number one passion was making Saskatchewan, his classrooms, school divisions, his home and his Riders better.”
Today a procession saw the Hopson family drive through Regina before making their way to the Conexus Arts Centre for a celebration of life.
Hopson’s daughter Carrie Hopson Stewart spoke with her brother about some special memories they had with their dad.
She recalled one time in 2005 when she was invited to join Hopson and the team on a trip to Montreal.
“On the flight there I was seated between him and another offensive lineman. It was not the most comfortable flight I have had,” Hopson Stewart said with a laugh.
Hundreds of community members gathered for the celebration, and for those who knew Hopson, it was a day met with mixed emotions.
“It is good to be here to honour him and it’s sad to say goodbye,” Hopson’s friend Sandy Crofts said. “It’s good to be with the family.”
“He could really get people to pull together and see the goal and work for him to achieve it,” Doug Crofts said.
Hopson was born and raised in the Queen City and started his football career as a player at Thom Collegiate. He went on to play with the Regina Rams before joining the Roughriders as an offensive lineman in 1973.
In 2004, he became the Roughriders’ first-ever president and CEO, a role he held until 2015 which included two grey cup championships.
But despite all his success around the football field, it’s his work outside the stadium he will always be remembered for.
“He was a good friend, and we are going to miss him very much,” LaClair said.