James Martin Hopper

James Martin Hopper, 78, of Little Rock, passed away June 25, 2013. He was born January 31, 1934 to the superintendent of schools and the postmaster at Leola, Arkansas, Pete and Lucille Hopper. James was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bruce Hopper. Survivors, special friends, A.C. and Linda Paxton of Benton, Michael Saunders of Little Rock and cousin, Joie Nutt of Little Rock. James grew up in Leola and in Bauxite, graduating from Bauxite High School in 1951. In 1955, still working on his BSChE degree, he joined the University of Arkansas Industrial Research Center in Little Rock, producing plant location studies for use by the then new Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. He achieved a Master of Business Administration in 1960 from the University of Chicago school of Business. In 1957, James attended the University of Arkansas School of Engineering, achieving a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. 1956 to 1959, University of Arkansas Industrial Research Center, serving as Industrial Specialist. Plant location studies in support of Winthrop Rockefeller's Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. 1968 to 1971, Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He Was Assistant to the Dean and Director of Development. Funding the building of the Monroe Gutman Library; substantial increases in the Alumni Fund and joined Dean in annual solicitation of David Rockefeller. In 1960, James earned a MBA at the University of Chicago, joining W.R. Grace and Company in Cambridge, MA, as a sales engineer for rubber container sealing compounds, and later as product manager for meteorological balloons and the anesthetic gas absorbent, Sodasorb. In 1968, after a six month stint of volunteer trail work in western national parks with the Sierra Club, James was appointed Assistant to the Dean of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, directing a program to secure funds to build a major new library building. He also served on the board of directors of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and wrote the successful proposal for funding construction of the Club's landmark, Joe Dodge Lodge, in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. In 1972, after a summer running backpacking trips for the AMC in the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Hawaii, he returned to the University of Chicago GSB as Assistant Dean and later, Associate Dean. He was assigned to manage the financing of a plant raising the standing of the school among its peers, the high point of his career came with two articles published within a week of each other. The Wall Street Journal headlined "Chicago School is Number One," and the New York Times led with "Chicago School Goes to the Head of the Class." 1973 to date, James was Director of Advancement Associates, with client and Pro Bono Publico work with numerous institutions, including the American Association of Graduate Schools of Business Dean's group, the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Business; the University of California-Davis, Graduate School of Business; the Foundation of one of the service academies, and the Appalachian Mountain Club. In 1985, Clark University of Worcester, MA, recruited James, where he served as Vice President for eight years, leading Clark's first successful multimillion dollar fund raising campaign. He also served on the development board of the Worcester Horticultural Society and the Tower Hill Arboretum. In 1987 to date, James has owned two certified tree farms totaling about 200 acres of Loblolly Pines. James became Senior Vice President of the Audubon Nature Institute (a private foundation operating a number of new Orleans institutions, including the Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, the Moonwalk, Woldenberg Park, and Audubon Park) in 1992. He successfully directed a first multi-million dollar campaign, including a Large-Animal Hospital and an IMAX Theater. James retired in 1994 and after a few years returned to Arkansas, moving to Hot Springs, and then Little Rock. His personal interest are his six bicycles, chalking up rides across Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas and the South Island of new Zealand; and his tree farms. He was affiliated with the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers, numerous conservation, forestry, mountain biking, and bicycling organizations. He was former director of Appalachian Mountain Club (Mass.), YMCA of Worcester, Mass., Tower Hill Arboretum (MA, Civic Improvement associations in Dune Acres (Imd.) and Diamondhead (Ark.). Graveside services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 10 a.m. Saturday with A.C. Paxton officiating at Leola Cemetery in Leola, Arkansas. Visitation will be Friday at Ashby Funeral Home, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Audobon Society, 4500 Springer Blvd, Little Rock, Arkansas 72206. On line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.