Hall of Fame
Carolyn Ruth Hopkins (1956-1991) was known as a “gentle giant” by parents, students, and faculty alike during her tenure as Peace College’s Athletic Director from 1982 to 1989, and as both a faculty member and tennis team coach.
As head of the PhysEd department she was the Peace “Green Giants” tennis team’s coach. During her tenure, she led her teams to a 120-55 record, won six Region X championships in six tries and finished seventh or higher six times in the national junior-college tournament. In 1989, her last season, Peace achieved its highest ranking, fourth, and went 18-1. It was a record enviable by any athletic coach.
Tragically, at the age of 34 after a lengthy battle with cancer, Ms. Hopkins passed away. A.J. Carr, a staff writer for the News & Observer at the time, noted, “She reigned with a gentle touch and a smile, but she could be tough. She even kept one talented team home from the regional and national tournaments for disciplinary reasons.” That toughness served her well during the fight for her life, and her smile gave those who loved her strength to support her during the two years she battled.
In the end, her commitment to Peace College athletics reigned anew when her estate and memorial tribute gifts established the Carolyn Ruth Hopkins Fund. The endowment fund provides support for the College’s athletic department and the tennis team, even today, nearly twenty years later.
In 1994, Ms. Hopkins received a posthumous induction into the Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame, recognizing her career achievements and dedication as an athletic director, coach, and tennis enthusiast.
Ms. Hopkins was posthumously inducted into the Peace College Athletics Hall of Fame on April 9, 2011.
