David Blackledge and Kristian Dambrino on how Dr. W. Briggs Hopson Jr. affected their lives.

Two people who worked closely with Dr. W. Briggs Hopson Jr. remember him with respect and affection. Hopson died Saturday at the age of 82.

David Blackledge has worked alongside Dr. Hopson and his lovely wife, Pat, at the helm of the Miss Mississippi organization for almost four decades. Blackledge became involved with the pageant early on in his career and has ascended to the position of executive director. Together the trio, along with a host of mainly volunteers, created one of the pre-eminent pageants in the country. Numerous top 10 finalists and two Miss Americas have come from the Miss Mississippi Organization under their leadership.

“Dr. Hopson was an outstanding Christian man,” Blackledge said. “I valued his friendship.”

“He had such an impact for over 40 years,” he added. “He turned his hobby into a labor of love.”

Blackledge recounted how Dr. and Mrs. Hopson, as former chairman and former executive producer, respectively, lobbied year-round for scholarship dollars so that young women could continue their educations. The couple were honored by the Miss America Organization in 2019 with a lifetime achievement award.

“He was a valued member of the national organization,” Blackledge said. “He loved the pageants and contestants. He is the reason we have been so successful for so long.”

(Photo courtesy Kristian Dambrino)

Kristian Dambrino was Miss Mississippi 2005. She held the title when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the state, including the town of Pearlington where her grandmother lived.

”I will always be grateful for every moment I had with Dr. Hopson when I was Miss Mississippi,” Dambrino said from her home in Nashville Monday. “I had the opportunity to get to know an incredible human being who dedicated his life to promoting women in leadership roles. He gave me the rare opportunity to create a platform to advocate for hurricane relief efforts in Mississippi during a crucial time of personal loss for me, showing me the healing power of purpose — that scholarships and accolades have no meaning if they are simply acquired or won.

“He taught me that as Miss Mississippi and beyond, I could embrace every day as an opportunity to channel my passion and efforts back into bridging the health care gap for underserved communities. This concept is central to the work I do today as a psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner working in community mental health. His character, sense of stewardship, and sense of humor will be greatly missed. He and Pat will always be family to me and knowing him changed the course of my life. My thoughts and prayers are with the family today, as well as with Vicksburg.”