TRIBUTE TO ROLLIE WILLIAM HOPGOOD, A MAN OF ACTION

Rollie Hopgood, past president of the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School-Related Personnel from 1996 to 2001, passed away March 12, 2002, while in Hawaii with his wife.

Rollie was many things to many people: union leader, teacher, friend, biking enthusiast, advocate and family man. Not only passionate and committed, he was a man of action, a man with a mission, a man who knew no limits when it came to advancing unity, the labor movement, public education and the condition of all public school employees.

Rollie worked tirelessly for the Michigan Federation of Teachers & School-Related Personnel in 1970 and 1971 as a staff representative and again from 1981 to 1996 as administrative assistant to the president. In 1996 he was chosen by the administrative board to replace retiring President Hugh Jarvis. Rollie was then elected and reelected to the presidency in 1997 and 1999.

While president of the Taylor Federation of Teachers, Local 1085, Rollie was able to effectuate collective bargaining rights before the state bargaining law was enacted and lead numerous strikes to secure outstanding contracts.

He served on the Taylor (Mich.) City Council, the state AFL-CIO executive board, was treasurer of the state board of education; he taught art, social studies and physical education in the Taylor school district.

Past President Hopgood retired in June of 2001, with the plan of taking bike trips in various parts of the country with his wife, Chris, yet was active with the newly formed MFT&SRP retirees committee and had plans to actively campaign for his son Hoon-Yung Hopgood in his race for state representative in Michigan's 22^nd District.

Mr. Hopgood was known for his big voice and even bigger heart. He laughed loud, lived well and was an inspiration to many.

RESOLVED, that the AFT, AFL-CIO and its affiliates join the MFT&SRP in honoring Rollie W. Hopgood as a tireless leader whose energy and spirit inspired and continues to inspire many.