Roy M. Hopkins

"Hoppy Hopkins" redirects here. For the figure John "Hoppy" Hopkins from the UK underground movement, see John Hopkins (political activist).

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 as Hoppy Hopkins (June 10, 1943 – November 23, 2006), was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the District 1 parishes of Caddo and Bossier. He served from 1988 until his death.

Political career

Hopkins began his political life as an alderman, and later mayor, of Oil City, Louisiana. In 1979, he was elected to the Caddo Parish Police Jury. Hopkins was also the first president of the Caddo Parish Commission, which replaced the Police Jury in December 1984.

Hopkins won his House seat when the incumbent, Republican Bruce Lynn of Gilliam, decided to bow out of the 1987 contest. Hopkins defeated Republican Kenneth "Ken" Frazier, and fellow Democrat Norbert Johnson.

Republican David Hunter tried unsuccessfully to defeat Hopkins in 1991. Democrats Kirby Kelly and Philip Green challenged him, and lost, in 2003.

Legislation

The Shreveport 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 in Shreveport, Louisiana and the establishment of the Louisiana State Oil and Natural Gas Museum in Oil City. He wrote legislation to benefit local governments by apportionment of riverboat 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 Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.

He was a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee, elected by the Fourth Congressional District's legislative delegation to serve as its representative.

Colleague and close friend, Representative Billy Montgomery, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Haughton in Bossier Parish, told the Shreveport 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 Speaker Joe Salter, a Democrat from Florien in Sabine Parish, said that Hopkins could not be pressured to support or oppose legislation.

Personal life

Hopkins was born in the village of Murchison in Henderson County, Texas. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having been stationed in Germany during the Cold War. In 1966, Hopkins moved his family to Oil City, Louisiana, and made his living there as an automobile dealer.

Hopkins liked to hunt and golf, and belonged to the Monterey Country Club in Vivian, Louisiana. When the legislature was in session, Hopkins and a group of other House members liked to play nine holes of golf before morning committee meetings.

Death

Hopkins died on November 23, 2006, from bone cancer. Services were held five days later at the United Pentecostal 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.

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.

In a special election held on February 24, 2007, to choose Hopkins' successor, Republican Jim Morris, a Caddo Parish commissioner, received 69 percent of the vote. Morris then won a full term in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007.