 Hopper, 1917 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1876-07-23)July 23, 1876 Paris, France |
| Died | August 28, 1956(1956-08-28) (aged 80) Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley (1898) |
| Playing career | |
| 1896–1897 | California |
| 1899 | California |
| Positions | End,quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1900 | Nevada State |
| 1904 | California |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 10–3–2 |
James Marie Hopper (July 23, 1876 – August 28, 1956) was an American writer and novelist. He was also an earlycollege football player and coach, playing at theUniversity of California, Berkeley in the late 1890s and then serving single seasons as head football coach at Nevada State University—now known as theUniversity of Nevada, Reno—in 1900 and at his alma mater, California, in 1904. During his lifetime, Hopper published 450 short stories and six novels.
Hopper was born on July 23, 1876, inParis, France, to John Joseph Hopper, a native of Ireland, and his wife, Victoire Blanche Lefebvre.[1] He attended schooling in Paris and later immigrated to the United States with his mother to California, where he completed his preliminary education.[2][3]
Hopper graduated from theUniversity of California, Berkeley with the class of 1898. While at Berkeley, he played football and first as anend and later atquarterback. He completed law school at theHastings Law School. He passed the state bar examination but never practiced law. Instead he worked as a reporter on theSan Francisco Chronicle, and was on the staff ofThe Wave, a literary San Francisco weekly.[4]
In 1900, Hopper was hired to coach football at Nevada State University—now known as theUniversity of Nevada, Reno.[4] He led the1900 Nevada State Sagebrushers football team to a record of 4–2–1 including a win overStanford.
Hopper married Mattie E. Leonard on September 21, 1901, at her father's San Francisco residence, Joseph E. Leonard, and her mother. The coupled honeymooned toSouthern California.[5]
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After coaching at the University of California in 1904, Hopper was sent to thePhilippines, by theMcClure's magazine, to write a new book.[6] When they returned to the United States, Hopper joined the McClure's staff in San Francisco. He then became a reporter forThe San Francisco Call at the time of the1906 San Francisco earthquake.[7] He ended up staying there for two years to teach school. Hopper first metHerman Whitaker,George Sterling, andJack London at Whitaker's home inPiedmont, California.[8]
In 1907, he and his wife moved toCarmel-by-the-Sea, California where his good friend, George Sterling, had established "Bohemia-by-the Sea". There he rented a cottage on Dolores and 9th Avenue, by the beach where he published stories that he hoped to sell to magazines. In 1913, Hopper and his wife purchased George Sterling's cottage, when Sterling returned to San Francisco. The house burned down in 1924 and he rebuilt it on the same site with thermotite cement blocks, a locally produced fireproof building material. In 1938, Hopper sold the house to John P. Gilbert and his wife, the parents of Mrs. Ungaretti.[7][9][10]
In Carmel many of his close associates were friends from his encounters at Coppa's “bohemian” restaurant in San Francisco, includingHarry Leon Wilson,Xavier Martinez,Arnold Genthe, painterFrancis McComas and his wife Gene as well as Perry Newberry,Mary Hunter Austin, andSinclair Lewis.[11] He was also friends with writerFrederick R. Bechdolt. Together, they wrote the fictional novel9009 about the condition of American prisons and the need for reform.[12]
Editors print it that way. Everyone else says "Jimmy." Famous football star in his youth he can still be seen in the village streets with the kids kicking the pig-skin. He boots a mean ball what we mean! In 1918 known throughout the county as war correspondent for Collier's Forty Carmelites raised their demijohns to his health and safety at picnic festivities November 11th, 1918, at which moment he was busy touching off the last cannon shot in the world war! He returned to take into his arms his new baby daughter Jane whom he then saw for the first time. The Hoppers are Carmel's most genial hosts. Ah! the good times that have been had by all in the Hopper home!
Hopper was close friends with novelistJack London. In April 1907, London was aboard his boat,the Snark, when he held the sleeve of a football sweater with his wife Charmian, and Hopper. The Londons were prepared to embark on a round-the-world cruise. London hoisted his old friend's jersey up the mast and flew it like a flag as theSnark sailed past theGolden Gate and out of San Francisco Bay.[14]
When he left Carmel he returned to Oakland to write stories of his Philippine adventures forSunset and other magazines.[15]
Hopper gained United States citizenship in 1917. DuringWorld War I, he worked as a correspondent forCollier's magazine. At the end of the war, he became a full-time Carmel resident. He was active at theForest Theater and theAbalone League in Carmel.[16]
During theGreat Depression in the United States, he served in theWPA'sFederal Writers' Project as a state director and later as the northern regional director.[17]
Hopper died at his Carmel home on August 28, 1956, at age 80. Funeral services were held inPacific Grove, California.[18]
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| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada State Sagebrushers(Independent)(1900) | |||||||||
| 1900 | Nevada State | 4–2–1 | |||||||
| Nevada State: | 4–2–1 | ||||||||
| California Golden Bears(Independent)(1904) | |||||||||
| 1904 | California | 6–1–1 | |||||||
| California: | 6–1–1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 10–3–2 | ||||||||
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Works by or aboutJames Hopper atWikisource
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
