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SPORTS FIGURES of NE

under construction

Hugo Cornelius Hoffman - 1930 Penthalon Champion from Ashland, NE.

Grover Cleveland Alexander - Baseball Hall of Fame (born 1887 at Elba, NE; Died 1950, buried at St. Paul, NE)


Scottsbluff Star Herald obit - Tues. 3 Jun 2003
John L. "Cotney" Hopp
Born 18 Jul 1916, Hasting, NE. Parents: John Hopp and Alice Schreiner. 1934 grad: Hastings HS. (Class president & member of NHS). Played on local baseball teams and first American Legion Team in Hastings, 1932.
Attended Hastings College, played football, basketball, participated in track.
1935: Played on semi-pro team called Carroll Iowa Merchants.
1936: Professional team at Norfolk, NE. Thereafter played for Rochester, NY and Houston, TX teams.
1937: Married Marian Simpson at Hastings, NE.
1939: Joined St. Louis Cardinals. Played in 3 World Series with the team.
1946-47: Played for Boston Braves. 1948-50: Played for Pittsburgh Pirates. 1950: NY Yankees. 1952: Detroit Tigers.
1952-57: Coach for Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. Retired to work for KS-NE Energy in public relations department. Conducted baseball schools & motivational seminars. Spoke on behalf of Big Brothers, Hastings Chamber of Commerce, Hastings Swimming Association. Promoted golfing activites.
1969: Married a second time (first wife deceased).
1985: Inducted in The Lincoln Journal NE Sports Hall of Fame.
1988: Moved to Scottsbluff, NE.
1997: Inducted in NE High School Hall of Fame.
1 Jun 2003: Died at Scottsbluff, NE. Buried at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings, NE.


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© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller