The most vivid memories I have of George Hopkins was when we both taught at Great Mills High School. I was teaching science across the hall from George who was teaching art . Back then GMHS was a small building and the teaching staff was like a family.  Miss Jane Mattingly was principal. George was always an inspiration to his students, and he loved the classroom environment. One day during the Cuban crisis, I was teaching science across the hall from the art room. That particular day the noise level coming from George's classroom was excessive. I went over to see what was going on. George was standing on top of the table with three straws in his mouth and holding three bottles of colored paint. He began sucking the paint into the straws and than blowing it down on to a piece of plywood. He had paint all over the place. I asked him what he was doing.  He responded, " I am painting the Cuban Revolution."  This was typical of George's teaching style. He kept the classroom alive with enthusiasm and students loved taking his classes.

    Over the last several years George has sponsored a Foundation for the Arts which awards several art scholarships to deserving students in St. Mary's County. This year's awards ceremony will be held at the higher education center on March 10, 2008. George's legacy will continue to enrich the lives of students for years to come.

Sal Raspa

This editorial cartoon penned by 'Hoppy' made light of the Democratic Club awarding Democrat of the Year to Larry Millison with the herd of elephants representing all of the GOP candidates supported by the three-term popular Democrat St. Mary's Commissioner over the years.  Millison was proud of the cartoon and requested a copy of it.

GEORGE CRAGG HOPKINS, JR.

A small part of the soul of Lexington Park was lost on Wednesday when George Cragg Hopkins, Jr., quietly passed away, ending eighty-eight (88) years of life on this earth.  George was an artist, a teacher, a father, a loyal companion, a business man and most recently a benefactor.  He was part of the rapidly disappearing entrepreneurial foundation of the new town which, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, emerged outside of the main gate of the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River and grew to become the center of the largest business community in St. Mary’s County.

Some people will remember George as the owner of a roller skating rink on Route 235 in an old Quonset hut.  Others will remember George as the father of Linda Hopkins who owned the Elephant Trunk, a unique gift shop located in one of George’s commercial buildings.  And some will remember him as a roaring lion in the Lexington Park Lion’s Club, or for his frequent visits to Linda’s café.

But far more remember George as an art teacher at Great Mills High School and later at other schools in St. Mary’s County.  A number of his former students have achieved national recognition in the world of art. 

And a few will remember George as the founder and principal benefactor of the George Cragg Hopkins Jr., Arts Endowment, Inc., a not-for-profit charitable organization which annually awards scholarships – significant scholarships – to graduates from the three (3) public high schools of St. Mary’s County who study art in institutions of higher education.

George Hopkins believed in the future of young people of St. Mary’s County and he knew that a reflection of the maturity of a community was the emphasis which that community placed not only academic achievement, but on the appreciation of fine arts.

George’s legacy of scholarships will live to provide benefits to young people for years to come.  George never asked for recognition for his efforts, never sought credit for his generosity.  The gratitude of his former students and the recipients of his scholarships was always thanks enough for George.

Well done, George.  We will miss you.
Joe Mitchell

[N.B.  On Monday, March 10, scholarship awards will again be presented to selected students from St. Mary’s Public High Schools.  For more information contact Lynn Morgan Smoot, Supervisor of Fine Arts, St. Mary’s County Public Schools (301) 475-5511, Ext. 112.  This is the first awards ceremony that George will miss.]