William Briggs Hopson, Jr. was born in Delhi, Louisiana in
1937. He departed this life on June 20, 2020 when he joined his parents, the late
Mary Jane and W. Briggs Hopson, Sr., in heaven.
A graduate of the University of Mississippi, he received his
medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis where he served as
chief resident and associate professor of surgery.
He began his medical career in Vicksburg, Mississippi at the
Street Clinic in 1967. He continued his medical work in Vicksburg until his
retirement in 2018. During that time, he served as chief of staff, president
(and chairman of the board) of the local hospital and clinic, respectively. He
was elected as a fellow to the American College of Surgeons and a diplomat to
the American Board of Surgery. He received numerous accolades throughout his
career.
His passion for trauma medicine resulted in him being named
State Trauma Director. In this capacity he was a representative to the American
College of Surgeons for over twenty-five years. He worked with the committee to create national
guidelines for Advanced Trauma Life Support. He taught the first ATLS course in
the state of Mississippi and taught ATLS courses around the county. He also
served twenty-seven years as the State Medical Director of Emergency Medical
Services.
Governor Kirk Fordice tapped Dr. Hopson to chair the State’s
Committee on Health Care. During this time, he was instrumental in passing Mississippi’s
ATLS law, creating levels of trauma centers throughout the state. Governor
Ronnie Musgrove appointed him to serve on the Mississippi State Board of
Health.
He served as president of the Mississippi State Medical
Association from 1999-2000 and was a delegate to the American Medical
Association for eight years.
Dr. Hopson was a former associate professor at the University
of Mississippi Medical Center and was named to the 2016 Medical Center Hall of
Fame.
He served his country for eighteen years, ten of those being
command surgeon of the 412th Army Engineering Command.
Dr. Hopson devoted a large portion of his time to his alma
mater, the University of Mississippi. He was elected president of the Alumni
Association from 2001-2003. He was later selected to the Alumni Hall of Fame.
He served as Chairman of the Board of the Miss Mississippi
Organization for over twenty-five years. He and his wife, Pat were instrumental
in preparing representatives for the Miss America Pageant and providing
millions of dollars of scholarship for the education of young women throughout
the state. In 2017 he received the Miss Mississippi Organization Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Dr. Hopson was active and supportive of many charities in
Vicksburg. He was a loyal and active member of Crawford Street United Methodist
Church as chairman of the administrative board and Sunday School teacher for
over 50 years. He served on numerous local Boards including the Red Carpet Bowl
Committee (Chairman), Hinds Community College, Merchants Bank, and RiverHills
Bank. He proudly served as team doctor for Warren Central High School for many
years. Dr. Hopson gave generously of his time and resources to help countless
people throughout the community, state, and nation.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Pat Hopson;
his brother Jimmy Hopson (Sue) of Delhi, LA; children Karen Hopson Hall (Reggie)
of Dallas TX; Kathy Hopson Ricks (Kerry) of Vicksburg; Senator W. Briggs Hopson
III (Ali) of Vicksburg; and Jay Hopson (Michelle) of Hattiesburg; and
grandchildren Anna Kate Moen Modisett (Brian), Tanner Hall, Neal Ricks, Travis
Hall, Liam Hopson, Walt Hopson, Wesley Ricks, Hyde Hopson, Hannah Hopson, and
Jane Hopson.
The Hopson Family wishes to thank the following:Dr. Murray Whitaker, Dr. Paul Pierce, Dr. Sam Pierce, Dr.
Tom Sligh, Dr. Carlos Latorre, Dr. Ruth Fredericks, Dr. David Fagan, Dr. Scott McPherson, the staff of Encompass
Hospice, the staff and medical providers at Merit Health River Region, Charlene
Moore, Janice Brewer, Rose Nixon and Kay Murrell.
The family invites the public to a drive-by visitation at
the Vicksburg Convention Center, located at 1600 Dr. Briggs Hopson Blvd. from
1:30 to 3:30pm on Friday, June 26. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the
following:- Dr. W. B.
Hopson Jr. Memorial Scholarship at the Miss Mississippi Corporation;
-
Crawford
Street United Methodist Church;
-
The
University of Mississippi Foundation;
-
The American
Heart Association;
-
Or a charity
of your choice.
