- Name
- Elmer Hopkins
- Seasons
- 1914-15
- Birthday
- March 17, 1893
Elmer Hopkins was born Elmer Woodson Hopkins on March 17, 1893, in Henderson, Kentucky, to Woodson Hopkins and Magdalene Ewing Hopkins. His father, Woodson, was a city engineer for Henderson.
Hopkins attended the old Barret Manual Training High School in Henderson, Kentucky.
Hopkins’ basketball career at Kentucky is questionable. Yearbooks from the era indicate that he participated in class basketball, not as a member of the varsity basketball team. Although detailed statistics from that era are scarce, one source does indicate he played in one varsity basketball game at Kentucky in 1914-15 as a sophomore. He did serve as manager of the varsity football team during his senior year.
Beyond his athletic career, Hopkins served in the military, demonstrating his dedication and service to his country. After his time at Kentucky, he continued to be involved in various activities and maintained a connection with his community. Hopkins completed his thesis on the sewage system of Henderson. Immediately after graduating from Kentucky in June of 1917, he reported to Fort Ben Harrison near Indianapolis for military training. From there, he was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas for additional training and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He served as an army engineer in France from December of 1917 to June of 1918. His letters from the front in France were published regularly in Henderson’s newspaper, The Gleaner. Between his army service and 1923, he was an engineer for the county of Henderson, Kentucky. From 1923 to 1936 he was connected with Black & Veatch, consulting engineers in Kansas City. He moved to Salina, Kansas in 1932 where he became city engineer, a position he held until 1942. He became widely known for his civil engineering work in that area.
Hopkins was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Kansas Engineering society, the American Legion, the Lions Club in Salina, the Shrine in Salina, the American Public Works association and the Central Methodist Church
Elmer Hopkins passed away on June 29, 1951. His legacy as a dedicated athlete and serviceman continues to be remembered by those who knew him and the University of Kentucky community.
