When Charles Hopkins, better known to his friends as "Chilly," came to Coe College after Navy service in World War II, he wanted to play foot-ball. It didn't take long for several football players who were taller and heavier to convince Chill that track should be his athletic choice.
He came to Coe with impressive credentials from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids. There he had been city, conference and state champion in the one-half mile run.
At Coe, he continued his championship ways by winning the half-mile conference race in both 1947 and 1948.
He was captain of the track team in 1948, serving under Coach Harris Lamb.
The highlight of his track days at Coe was running on a sprint medley relay team which won the Midwest Conference championship in record time. Hopkins anchored a stellar team which included track greats like Ralph LaCombe, Russ "Buck" Collins, and Marv Levy.
In recognition of these multiple championships in track, Coe proudly adds the name of Charles "Chilly" Hopkins to the roster of the Athletic Hall of Fame.
