Board of Directors
Ken graduated from high school in 1961 and then spent 3 years in the Navy. He then graduated Emporia State University in 1969 with a teaching degree at which point he worked and devoted the majority of his life to Hopkins Manufacturing in a variety of different capacities in sales and eventually became President after his father (E.L. "Bud" Hopkins) owner/creator of the Hopkins passed away. After retiring, he spent a number of years in Emporia enjoying golf, family and his friends. He also has been involved in various community activities. He served on the Emporia Country Club board for three years and in 2012, moved to Kansas City to be closer to his children (Michelle Hopkins-Molinaro and Kevin Hopkins) and grandchildren (Conner Hopkins, Nicole Hopkins, Asher & Jacob Molinaro). He and his wife (Susan Hopkins) split their time between homes in Kansas City, Lake of the Ozarks and Haines City, Florida. He has served on the E.L. and Z. Irene Hopkins Foundation since its inception and is currently President of the Foundation.
Michelle Hopkins-Molinaro graduated Emporia High School in 1989. She then attended the University of Kansas graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She spent 13 years in the apartment industry working for AMLI Residential in the Overland Park, Kansas area. During that time she served on many fund raising committees for a huge variety of different organizations. But, her greatest achievement was being asked by her Grandfather (E.L. "Bud" Hopkins) to serve as Manager/Secretary for his foundation in 2001. She has had the honor and blessing since then of carrying out her grandparent's wishes through helping others through their foundation - The E.L. & Z. Irene Hopkins Foundation.
Michelle currently resides in Leawood, KS with her husband, Adam and their two boys, Jacob and Asher.
E. L. & Z. Irene Hopkins Foundation board member and attorney, Thomas A. Krueger, was raised in Emporia, Kansas, and returned to his home town to establish his law practice in 1966. Mr. Krueger continues this successful law practice and has served clients in numerous areas of the law.
Mr. Krueger attended Emporia schools, both private and public, and graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1961. He received his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University in 1964 and was admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1965. He holds membership in the following professional organizations: Lyon-Chase County Bar Association, Kansas Bar Association, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, and American Bar Association.
Tom was fortunate to have a long term working relationship with his friend, E. L. "Bud" Hopkins, and was called on to assist E. L. and Irene in the creation of the E.L. & Z. Irene Hopkins Foundation. Mr. Krueger and been married to his wife, Carol, for 45 years. They are the parents of three children: Sara Shaw, Julie Krueger, and Doug Krueger as well as four grandchildren, Katelin, Audree, Erik and Lucas.
Ruby started her teaching career in Gove, KS. during the spring semester of 1970. She was a reading teacher. Then she taught third graders for 3 years at Ft. Leavenworth. From there, she taught 7 years in Council Grove. She taught 7-8 graders and coached. In 1981 Ruby married Steve Butcher. When she moved to Emporia, she taught 6th graders for 24 years then retired in 2005. She was a substitute teacher for 5 years then retired from that. Ruby has been a mentor for 3 years. Throughout her teaching career, she obtained a Master's degree, plus 60 hours. One of her favorite activities is running into her former students.
Sharon is a native of Southeast Alabama, but has lived in Emporia, KS since 1979. After high school, she worked as a travel agent, earning her Certified Travel Counselor designation before starting and operating her own agency, All About Travel. Since February of 2000, she has served as the executive director of The Walter S. & Evan C. Jones Foundation located in Emporia.She has served on both the Site Council and Curriculum & Instructional Council for USD 253, as well as a past president & board member of the statewide oral health advocacy organization, Oral Health Kansas. She has participated in the Oral Health Dental Champions Leadership program, "Leading for the Common Good" Leadership Program at the Center for Creative Leadership, the national Exponent Philanthropy Master Juggler Leadership Executive Institute and Rotary's Leadership Institute. Currently, she serves as an advisory board member for the Oral Health Kansas Dental Champions Leadership program, and is an Emporia Rotary Club board member.
Sharon has enjoyed riding her bicycle thousands of miles on the gravel roads through the scenic Flint Hills and participating multiple times in the Dirty Kanza Gravel Endurance Race. She and her husband, Dale, have one daughter, Rebecca and their German Shepherd, Zeus.
