MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) DeLano, Carter, Thompson, Seymour, England, DeBar, Wiggins, Hopson, Barnett, Boyd, Butler (38th), McCaughn, McDaniel, Michel, Moran
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE PASSING AND EXTENDING THE DEEP AND HEARTFELT SYMPATHY OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY OF ALBEN N. (AL) HOPKINS, SR., MAJOR GENERAL, MSARNG (RET.) AND COMMENDING HIS SERVICE AS MISSISSIPPI GAMING COMMISSION CHAIR, VETERAN GULFPORT ATTORNEY AND CIVIC LEADER.
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of the Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission Alben N. (Al) Hopkins, Sr., Major General, MSARNG (Ret.) who passed away on February 12, 2023. He was born in Ripley, Mississippi, on February 14, 1941, and was in his third term on the Mississippi Gaming Commission after being reconfirmed in 2022 by the Mississippi Senate; and
WHEREAS, Hopkins chaired the commission during a time of significant change for the gambling industry, with many states easing rules on when and where gambling can take place and legalizing sports betting; and
WHEREAS, a former Assistant Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, Hopkins retired from the military with the rank of Major General. He founded his own law firm, Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, in 1977 in Gulfport and served for 13 years as Chief Judge of the Court of Military Appeals; and
WHEREAS, Al Hopkins attended Delta State University on a basketball scholarship where he was a student leader and also played on the baseball team under Bo Ferris, whom he always admired. Alben was a member of the "M" Club among numerous other organizations which included the Debate Team, Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Gamma Nu, Pi Kappa Delta Honor Societies, and the Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity. He was chosen as Mr. Delta State and later Alumnus of the Year. Alben established a scholarship at Delta State University for qualifying high school students from Walnut, Mississippi, and Tippah County to allow them an opportunity to get a higher education. He was a 1963 graduate of Delta State University, receiving bachelor's degrees in History and English. In 1965, he received his juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He later received a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from William Carey University; and
WHEREAS, General Hopkins was a Major General in the Mississippi National Guard who retired effective March 5, 1996. General Hopkins entered military service in 1965 as an enlisted man in the 31st Infantry Division. In 1970, he received a direct commission to Captain. He was a graduate of the Judges Advocate General's Career Course and General Staff School of the United States Army, University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia. He served as Staff Judge Advocate for Mississippi Emergency Operations Headquarters; Command and Control Headquarters; Det. I STARC and Special Staff Judge Advocate to the Adjutant General of the State of Mississippi. General Hopkins served the last four years of his service as the Assistant Adjutant General of the State of Mississippi. He was promoted to Brigadier General with federal recognition effective March 11, 1993. In the position of Assistant Adjutant General (1992-1996), General Hopkins served in many additional capacities; and
WHEREAS, Hopkins was a well-known member of many organizations on the Gulf Coast, including Girl Scouts of Gulf Pines Council, the Spanish Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and the Harrison County Tourism Commission, of which he was a Past President; and
WHEREAS, his professional associations and societies include:
· Hinds County Bar Association 1965-1970;
· Harrison County Bar Association 1970-present;
· Mississippi Bar Association 1965-present;
Judicial Selection Committee 1978-1979;
Judicial Evaluation Committee 1993-1994;
· American Bar Association 1965-present;
Member Trial, Product Liability Section;
· Federal Bar Association 1971-present (V.P. 1982-1984);
· Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit 1987-present;
Agenda Committee, Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference 1989;
Transportation Committee, Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference 1996-1997;
· The Defense Research Institute (1974-present);
Area Chairman 1977-1979;
· Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association (1965-present);
Publications Committee 1974;
Judicial Administration and Liaison Committee 1980;
· Federation of Insurance & Corporate Counsel 1974-2005;
· Fellow Mississippi Bar Foundation (1976-present);
· Lamar Order (1984-present);
· American Trial Lawyers Association (1973-present);
Recognized by the National College of Advocacy as an Advocate (2001);
· International Association of Defense Counsel (1977-present);
· Southeastern Admiralty Association (Port Attorney 1983-1985);
· Transportation Lawyers Association;
· Association of the United States Army (Life Member);
· The National Guard Association of the United States (1965-present);
· The National Guard Association of Mississippi (1965-present); and
WHEREAS, his honors and organizations:
· In 1967, Mr. Hopkins served as President of the Delta State University Greater Jackson Area Association. He was a participant in the "Program for Excellence" at Delta State University. Mr. Hopkins served as President of Delta State Alumni Association for the State of Mississippi (1968-1969), and on the Board of Directors of Delta State University Foundation (1968-1988 and 1991-1995). He served as President of the Foundation in 1995. In 1991, he was selected as Alumnus of the Year at Delta State University for his leadership, achievement and devotion to his chosen field of endeavor, and to Delta State University;
· In 1970, he was chosen to appear in Outstanding Young Men of America and listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest;
· In 1971, he was elected to the Executive Counsel of Inter-Alumni Council for Institute of Higher Learning for the State of Mississippi and served as Vice Chairman (1971-1972) and Chairman 1972-1973);
· In 1990, Kappa Alpha Order, Delta Beta Chapter, dedicated Old South 1990 to Mr. Hopkins;
· In 1995, he was chosen King d'Iberville, King of All Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Gulf Coast Carnival Association. He served on the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Carnival Association;
· In 2003, he was the first recipient of the Delta State University Lifetime Achievement Award;
· He is a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the York Rite, and Shrine. Mr. Hopkins is a member of the Retired Officers Association; Reserve Officers Association; Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce; the American Legion; Gulfport Yacht Club; Windance Country Club; Great Southern Club and Gulfport Rotary Club; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins also served in the following community, state and national capacities:
· Board of Directors, Vice President, Gulfport Jaycees (1971-1973);
· Board of Directors, USO (1974-1975);
· Board of Directors, Gulf Pines Girl Scout Council (1974-present); awarded the Thanks Badge by the Girl Scouts of America (1982); awarded Lifetime Membership Status by the Girl Scouts of America; Golden Ruler Award; and President's Cabinet (1990-present);
· Board of Directors, United Way, Harrison County (1980-1982);
· American Heart Association, Mississippi Affiliate, Board of Directors, Chairman of Board (1985-1986); Assistant State Heart Chairman (1983); State Heart Fund Chairman (1984); Planned Giving Committee Chairman (1980-1984); District Director; awarded the Gold Award of American Heart Association (1981); awarded the Silver Award for Distinguished Service (1986);
· Mississippi National Guard Association (1965 to present);
· Development Board, William Carey College (1985-1989);
· Foundation Board, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1987-2003);
· Life Member, Mississippi Historical Society;
· Board of Deacons, Finance Committee, Chairman of Policy Committee, Sunday School Teacher, First Baptist Church of Gulfport, Mississippi;
· Board of Directors and President of the Metropolitan Dinner Club (1988-1989);
· Board of Directors, 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division Society (1992-1996) (Life Member);
· 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division Association, Inc., National President (1997-1998); 1st Vice President (1996-1997);
· Board of Directors, Mississippi Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse (1993-1999);
· Armed Forces Museum Foundation, Inc.; Charter Member Board of Directors 2002-2005;
· Harrison County Tourism Commission:
Commissioner 1994-present;
President 2002-2005;
· Mississippi State Chairman, World War II Commemoration Committee (1993-1995);
· Coastal Conservation Association (1995-present);
· Who's Who in Coast Business (1995);
· Marquis Who's Who in America (1996-present);
· Gulf Coast Can-rival Association, King d'Iberville (1995);
Board of Directors (1995-present);
· District Commissioner, Spanish Trail District, Boy Scouts of America (1997-1998);
· Executive Council, Spanish Trail District, Boy Scouts of America (1998-2005);
· Mississippi Coast Crime Commission (1997-present);
· Life Member, National Rifle Association;
· Sponsor, Ducks Unlimited;
· Harrison County Republican Executive Committee (1972-present);
· United Republican Fund;
· Wildlife Mississippi, Charter Member (1998-present);
· Sponsoring Association Member, National Association of Charter Boat Operators (1995-2000);
· DAR President General's Advisory Board (1998-2002);
· Coast Centurion Association (Gulf Coast Chamber); and
WHEREAS, an active member of First Baptist Church of Gulfport, Mississippi, Hopkins served as a Deacon and taught Sunday School. He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Carter Hopkins; his mother, Reba Norris Hopkins; his brother, Lloyd Gerald Hopkins; and his daughter, Ashley Anne Hopkins. Al is survived by his grade school sweetheart, his wife of 59 years, Johna Ruth Hopkins; his son, Norris Hopkins (Jodie); his grandson, Carter Houston Hopkins; his sister, Lana Moss (Harvey); his nieces and nephews; and his loyal four-legged companion, Clarence; and
WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi whose enormous civic energy is an example to all in our state. He will be missed:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the passing and extend the deep and heartfelt sympathy of the Mississippi Legislature to the surviving family of Alben N. (Al) Hopkins, Sr., Major General, MSARNG (Retired) and commend his service as Mississippi Gaming Commission Chair, Veteran Gulfport Attorney and Civic Leader.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of General Hopkins, forwarded to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.