Jim Hopson Obituary, Death Cause – It was announced by his family on Wednesday morning that Jim Hopson, who had previously served as the president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, had passed away. According to Hopson’s family, he passed away on Tuesday, April 2, surrounded by many members of his family and extended family. It was in April of 2021 that Hopson received the initial diagnosis of stage four colon cancer. In January of 2024, he made the announcement that he was no longer receiving treatment for the disease. Born in Regina in 1951, Hopson was a member of the Thom Collegiate football team throughout his high school years. After completing his high school education, he went on to play for the Regina Rams junior football team and, later, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
He was a member of the offensive line with the Roughriders for a period of four seasons, from 1973 to 1976, during which time he appeared alongside players such as Ron Lancaster and George Reed. After playing in the 1976 Grey Cup game, Hopson made the announcement that he would be retiring from the sport. Since then, he has spent more than thirty years working in the field of education, beginning as a full-time educator and eventually rising through the ranks to become a principal and director of education for the Prairie Valley School Division. During his time as a member of the Rams junior football team and the Riders, Hopson earned his degree in education from the University of Regina. In addition to that, he graduated with a Master of Arts degree on the University of Oregon.
Hopson was appointed to the position of president and chief executive officer of the Riders in 2005, and he continued to serve in that capacity until he announced his retirement in 2015. During Hopson’s tenure as head coach, the Riders were able to win the Grey Cup championship in 2007 and again in 2013 at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field.
Additionally, the team competed in the finals of the Grey Cup in both 2009 and 2010. Following a period of financial instability that lasted for several years in the 1990s, the Riders were able to generate consistent earnings and a record of 96-84-1 under Hopson’s tenure as president and CEO of the team.
According to a statement that was published on the website of the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Wednesday morning, “He ushered in a decade of exponential growth for the club’s business operations, football operations, and Rider Pride.” According to the organization, the Riders went from having a profit of $455 in Hopson’s first year as president and CEO to assuring the long-term future of the business with significant savings and investments during his administration.
It was the Roughriders who became the leaders in merchandising for the Canadian Football League (CFL), outselling all eight other CFL clubs combined. Strong performance off the field, but also and notably on the gridiron as well, made it possible for the team to achieve an all-time high level of fan engagement, according to the statement released by the team.
Hopson has received a number of accolades throughout the course of his career, including the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2005, admission into the Junior Achievement Saskatchewan Business Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award in 2011.
Moreover, Hopson was honored with the Diamond Jubilee Medal from Queen Elizabeth II in the year 2012, the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award from the Canadian Football League in the year 2014, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Regina Alumni Association in the year 2015.
Additionally, in 2018, he was honored by being admitted into the SaskTel Plaza of Honor for Riders. Hopson was also inducted into the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund Hall of Fame and the Regina Sports Hall of Fame in the year 2022. Both of these honors were bestowed upon himself.
The family of Hopson has announced that a memorial service will be conducted on May 3 at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. Additional information and a comprehensive obituary will be made available in the days ahead. He was 73 years old.
