Roy M. "Hoppy" Hopkins | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State Representative for District 1 (Caddo Parish) | |
| In office 1988–2006 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Newton Lynn, I |
| Succeeded by | James Hollis "Jim" Morris |
| Caddo Parish Commissioner | |
| In office 1980 (as Caddo Parish Police Juror) – 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Earl Guyton Williamson, Sr. (as Caddo Parish Police Juror) |
| Succeeded by | James Whitfield Williamson |
| President, Caddo Parish Commission | |
| In office 1984–1987 | |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Tommy Gene Armstrong |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1943-06-10)June 10, 1943 Murchison, Texas, United States |
| Died | November 23, 2006(2006-11-23) (aged 63) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rosemarie "Rose" Duddeck Hopkins |
| Children | Todd Andreas Hopkins Garry Romain Hopkins |
| Residence(s) | Oil City,Caddo Parish,Louisiana |
| Occupation | Automobile dealer |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | Cold War |
Roy M. Hopkins, known asHoppy Hopkins (June 10, 1943 – November 23, 2006), was aDemocratic member of theLouisiana House of Representatives for the District 1 parishes ofCaddo andBossier.[1] He served from 1988 until his death.[2]
Hopkins began his political life as analderman, and latermayor, ofOil City, Louisiana.[2][3] In 1979, he was elected to theCaddo Parish Police Jury.[4] Hopkins was also the first president of the Caddo Parish Commission, which replaced the Police Jury in December 1984.[5]
Hopkins won his House seat when theincumbent, RepublicanBruce Lynn ofGilliam, decided to bow out of the 1987 contest.[2] Hopkins defeated Republican Kenneth "Ken" Frazier, and fellow Democrat Norbert Johnson.[citation needed]
Republican David Hunter tried unsuccessfully to defeat Hopkins in 1991. Democrats Kirby Kelly and Philip Green challenged him, and lost, in 2003.[citation needed]
TheShreveport Times described Hopkins as "adept at getting bills passed and maneuvering behind the scenes to kill legislation he opposed." In the Louisiana House, Hopkins supported the LSU Health Sciences Center inShreveport, Louisiana and the establishment of theLouisiana State Oil and Natural Gas Museum in Oil City. He wrote legislation to benefitlocal governments by apportionment ofriverboat taxes. And he penned a bill to give health insurance to legislators whose tenures preceded term limits. The bill passed, but was vetoed by Democratic GovernorKathleen Babineaux Blanco.[2]
He was a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee, elected by theFourth Congressional District's legislative delegation to serve as its representative.
Colleague and close friend, RepresentativeBilly Montgomery, a Democrat-turned-Republican fromHaughton in Bossier Parish, told theShreveport Times that Hopkins was a "team player" who "led because people liked him so much." Montgomery said that ethics laws were unnecessary for legislators like Hopkins. Then House SpeakerJoe Salter, a Democrat fromFlorien inSabine Parish, said that Hopkins could not be pressured to support or oppose legislation.
Hopkins was born in the village ofMurchison inHenderson County,Texas. He was a veteran of theUnited States Army, having been stationed inGermany during theCold War. In 1966, Hopkins moved his family to Oil City, Louisiana, and made his living there as anautomobile dealer.[3]
Hopkins liked to hunt and golf, and belonged to the Monterey Country Club inVivian, Louisiana. When the legislature was in session, Hopkins and a group of other House members liked to playnine holes of golf before morning committee meetings.[2]
Hopkins died on November 23, 2006, frombone cancer.[2] Services were held five days later at the UnitedPentecostal Church of Oil City. Governor Blanco attended the burial in Lakeview Memorial Gardens and met privately afterward with Hopkins' widow, the former Rosemarie "Rose" Duddeck. Hopkins was also survived by sons Todd and Garry.[3]
Hopkins was honored two months before his death by the naming of "Roy 'Hoppy' Hopkins Drive", the entrance to the Caddo Parish Ward II Industrial Park near Vivian.[citation needed]
In aspecial election held on February 24, 2007, to choose Hopkins' successor, RepublicanJim Morris, a Caddo Parish commissioner, received 69 percent of the vote.[6] Morris then won a full term in thenonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007.[7]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Louisiana State Representative for District 1 (northern Caddo Parish) 1988–2006 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Caddo Parish Commissioner 1980–1988 | Succeeded by James Whitfield Williamson |
| Preceded by New position | President, Caddo Parish Commission 1984–1987 | Succeeded by |
