Jim Hopson, former Sask. Roughriders president and CEO has died

 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' previous CEO and president, Jim Hopson, passed away, his family announced on Wednesday morning.

Hopson passed away on Tuesday, April 2, surrounded by his loved ones, according to his family.


In April 2021, Hopson received a stage four colon cancer diagnosis. He declared his intention to stop therapy in January 2024.

For all you have done for our organization and for Rider Nation, thank you Jim, we will miss you.

💚 https://t.co/P85PQiQfUn pic.twitter.com/Q0FzRA5vu2

— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 3, 2024

Hopson, who was born in Regina in 1951, was a Thom Collegiate football player in high school. Following graduation, he played junior football for the Regina Rams before joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he spent four seasons (1973–1976) as an offensive tackle, sharing the field with players like George Reed and Ron Lancaster.

 After the 1976 Grey Cup match, Hopson declared his retirement from competitive play. After that, he worked as a full-time teacher for more than 30 years before rising to the position of principal and director of education for the Prairie Valley School Division.

Hopson played for the Riders and Rams junior football teams while earning his education degree from the University of Regina. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a master's degree as well.


In 2005, Hopson was appointed as the Riders' first full-time president and CEO, a position he retained until his retirement was declared in 2015.

Under Hopson’s guidance the Riders won Grey Cup championships in 2007 and at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field in 2013. The team also appeared in Grey Cup finals in 2009 and 2010.

The Riders had a record of 96-84-1 during Hopson’s time as president and CEO and posted regular profits after years of financial instability in the 1990s.

“He ushered in a decade of exponential growth for the club’s business operations, football operations and Rider Pride,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders said on its website Wednesday morning.