Dr. John Hal Hopson, 87, passed away from natural causes on April 8, 2021 while at the home of his son, Sidney, in Kamuela on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hal was born on December 11, 1933 in Sedan, NM to James H. and Thelma Mabel Hastings Hopson.
Hal grew up in Clayton, NM and graduated from Clayton High School in 1951. After high school, he attended New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, NM on a rodeo scholarship. While at NMSU he met and married Florence "Flossie" Aimo, the 1954 NMSU Homecoming Queen. He always said this was one of his proudest accomplishments. Hal and Flossie were married on January 30, 1955. After graduating from NMSU in 1955, Hal was accepted into Colorado State University in Ft. Collins and their veterinary program graduating in 1959. Hal and Flossie had their first son, Sidney Ross (born 1956) while in Ft. Collins.
The family moved to Deming, NM in 1959 and established Deming Animal Hospital. Second son, Steven John, was born in Deming in 1960. Hal practiced for a dozen years in Deming, including a short stint as NM State Veterinarian before moving to Silver City in the summer of 1972. He started Arenas Valley Animal Clinic that year and, all told, spent over 50 years as a practicing veterinarian with clients throughout southwestern NM.
In addition to the veterinary practice, Hal was very involved with First NM Bank serving on the board of directors from its founding in 1968 until his bank retirement in 2017. Hal also served as president of the NM Veterinary Association in 1970-71. He was on the Gila Regional Medical Center Board and the Grant County Humane Society Board. In 1998, Hal was selected as Silver City, NM Citizen of the Year. In 2015, Hal was awarded the "Spirit of Service" award from NMSU.
Hal prided himself on assisting and mentoring students interested in veterinary medicine and other careers involving animals and agriculture. He hired and trained numerous high school and college students. Several went on to become veterinarians themselves. Many who worked at the animal clinics stayed close to Dr. Hopson throughout their lives. In addition, via the NMSU Foundation, the Dr. J. Hal and Florence Hopson scholarship was endowed to support NMSU students furthering their studies in Animal Sciences with aspirations to veterinary medicine.
Hal was preceded in death by his parents: Jim and Thelma, sisters: Natalie Powers and Mae Hopson and brother: Harry Hopson and his wife: Flossie.
Hal is survived by sister: James L. Dawson; sons: Sid (Sheree) and Steve (Joyce); grandsons: Joshua (Keshia) & Zach (Cassie); great-grandchildren: Mailey, Ryder, Noah, and Talia.
Memorial services are being planned. Celebrations of life will be held on the Big Island of Hawaii in summer 2021 and also in New Mexico in fall 2021. Both of these are tentative due to COVID restrictions.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:
• Cowboys for Cancer Research, PO Box 202, Dona Ana, NM 88032