Bruce Hopkins stands in front of the St. Jude Thaddeus statue at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In the Fall 2011 issue of Memphis Crossroads Magazine,
Michael Waddell sat down with Bruce Hopkins, First Tennessee Bank West Region president, to discuss giving back to the Memphis community. In our special web-only content, Michael gets a little more personal, asking Hopkins what he's gotten in return.
Other than your wife and three sons, what do you miss most about Memphis when traveling?
When I’m traveling, I always take a little bit of
Elvis with me, and I talk about the ribs,
Beale Street, the arts, and the river. I miss all of that when I’m away. Other than the heat, Memphis is a great place to live. And I’m acclimated to the heat because I play tennis outside in it.
What are four of your favorite local restaurants?
Flight,
Interim,
Tsunami, and
Erling Jensen
What recreation activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
I’ve been an avid tennis player since I was a young boy. I play tennis every chance I get. I have regular games, play in leagues and do clinics.
Hopkins and his family compete in and support USTA tennis leagues year-round throughout the city, and one of his sons is a Division-3 college tennis player at Sewanee College. He also loves to snow ski and read.
Who would you cite as a role model professionally?
Former
First Tennessee CEO Ron Terry and everything he did within the community.
Hopkins serves as a board member for ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, The Tennessee Presidents Trust, The Leadership Academy and Trezevant Manor, and he is past chairman of Memphis Museums, Inc. (Pink Palace Family of Museums) and The Phoenix Club as well as a former board member for Presbyterian Day School and WKNO-TV.
Stay tuned for the Fall 2011 edition of
Memphis Crossroads Magazine, available on newstands and for free download SOON!
Memphis Crossroads, the Chamber's quarterly economic development magazine, is available free at select locations throughout Memphis (including Schnuck's markets), via mail for Chamber members and at the Chamber's offices on the 2nd floor of the Falls Building, 22 N. Front Street.