William B. Hopkins
| William B. Hopkins, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 21st district |
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In office January 12, 1972 – January 9, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | William A. Truban |
| Succeeded by | Ray L. Garland |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 32nd district |
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In office January 12, 1966 – January 12, 1972 |
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| Preceded by | Lloyd C. Bird |
| Succeeded by | Clive L. DuVal II |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 35th district |
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In office January 13, 1960 – January 12, 1966 |
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| Preceded by | Earl A. Fitzpatrick |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Benjamin Hopkins April 15, 1922 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 2012 (aged 90) McLean, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Virginia George |
| Alma mater |
Washington & Lee University University of Virginia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
William Benjamin Hopkins, Sr. (April 15, 1922 – December 11, 2012) was an American politician, lawyer and military historian.
Born in Rocky Mount in Franklin County, Virginia, Hopkins graduated from Washington and Lee University a semester early in 1942 so he could join the United States Marine Corps. He served in the South Pacific with the 3rd Marine Division during World War II as part of the Marine's island-hopping operations, including at Guadalcanal and Bougainville. Returning to Virginia, Hopkins remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, and used his G.I. Bill to earn a law degree in 1949 from the University of Virginia Law School.
He began practicing law in Roanoke, but was recalled to active duty in 1950 as the Korean War began. Hopkins commanded H & S Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division in the fall and winter of 1950. He led troops at the Chosin Reservoir and participated in the Chosin breakout when the Marines and United Nations forces were surrounded by tens of thousands of Chinese troops in minus 35-degree weather. Severely wounded in January 1951, Hopkins spent a year recovering at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. He returned to his Roanoke law practice, Martin, Hopkins & Lemon, in April 1952.
Hopkins was a lifelong Democrat. For several years, he was chairman of the Roanoke City Democratic Committee. In the July 1959 Democratic primary, he defeated segregationist Earl A. Fitzpatrick during the Commonwealth's Massive Resistance crisis.
Elected to the Virginia State Senate that November, Hopkins served in that part-time position for 18 years, from January 1960 until he was defeated for re-election by Republican Ray L. Garland in 1979. Hopkins ran for U.S. Congress in 1964, but was defeated by Republican Richard H. Poff. He ran unopposed for his state senate seat in 1965, 1967, 1971 and 1975.
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