Mr. John Hopkins Sr. seen here receiving one of his many awards.
By Gwendolyn Reese
John Hopkins Sr. was born October 16, 1911, in Bartow. A scholar and an active sports enthusiast, he was an outstanding quarterback, basketball player, and later during his life, he became an avid golfer. After graduating from Union Academy in Bartow, he attended Florida Normal Junior College in St. Augustine where he also excelled in sports.
He furthered his education at Florida A&M College in Tallahassee where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Continuing to pursue his education, he attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Columbia University in New York, where he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision.
Mr. Hopkins taught school in four cities in Florida and was appointed as principal of an elementary school in Lake Alfred before moving to St. Petersburg to become principal of Davis Elementary School. He also served as principal of Sixteenth Street Junior High School and after his death, the school district renamed the school in his honor to become John Hopkins Middle School. After retiring from the Pinellas County School System in 1973, he served as the executive director of Pinellas Opportunity Council from 1974-1992.
Mr. Hopkins was affiliated with many professional organizations that include the Chairman of The Module 16 Advisory Committee (Responsible for building the Enoch Davis Center), Pinellas Association of Secondary Supervisors, Florida State Teachers Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Chartered Member of Ambassadors Club, Governor’s Conference on Aging, National Association of Secondary School Principals and South-Eastern Association of Community Action Agencies.
Gwendolyn Reese “I AM”
He was instrumental in organizing the Pinellas County Urban League, the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation and the Pinellas Opportunity Council Federal Credit Union. Mr. Hopkins was also involved in organizing the Florida State Teachers Association with Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Miss. Olive B. McLin and later became president of the organization.
Source: Biographical sketch and obituary provided to the African American Heritage Association
