Richard L. Hopping, O.D., D.O.S., D.Sc.
President, 1973-97; President Emeritus, 1997
Joined us in 1973
O.D., Southern College of Optometry, 1952
D.O.S., (hon.), Southern College of Optometry, 1972
D.Sc., (hon.), State University of New York, 1993
D.O.S., (hon.), Southern California College of Optometry, 2004
President, Ohio Optometric Association, 1964–65
President, American Optometric Association (AOA), 1971–72
President, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), 1983–85
Chief Coordinator and Consultant, Pathways in Optometry, AOA and Allergan, Inc., 1989–95
Chairman, Georgetown Conference, Summit on Optometric Education Conference Series AOA and ASCO, 1991–95
Author, Optometric Oath; Adopted by ASCO and AOA, 1986
Optometrist of the Year, Ohio 1962; California 1988; Great Western Council of Optometry 2003
Founder and Co-Chair, National Academies of Practice in Optometry, 1983; Distinguished Practitioner, 1983
Distinguished Achievement Award, American Public Health Association, Vision Care Section, 1984
National Optometrist of the Year, AOA, 1988
Dr. Raymond I. Myers Award, American Optometric Student Association, 1990
Eminent Service Award, American Academy of Optometry, 1991
Distinguished Service Award, AOA, 1993
Leo Award of Excellence in Global Eye Care, National Eye Research Foundation, 1995
Paul Yarwood Award, California Optometric Association, 1997
Award for Professional Distinction, SCCO, 1997
Inductee, National Optometry Hall of Fame, 2003
Patron, Fully Endowed, Dr. Richard L. Hopping Ethics Scholarship, 2004
SCCO Centennial Honoree, 2004
Dr. Richard L. Hopping was named president of the Southern California College of Optometry following an extensive presidential search. Prior to his selection, he was a successful practicing optometrist for 20 years in Dayton, Ohio, where he had an impressive record of involvement in health care, higher education, community service and politics.
During Dr. Hopping’s presidency, he expanded the influence and recruitment of the College on a national level. In addition to strengthening the College’s finances, he expanded the clinical program from two clinics to 82 clinics in 24 states to become the most extensive in the nation. He traveled throughout the country testifying on behalf of optometric legislation in 26 states and before Congress and major health agencies in Washington, D.C. Support was sought and obtained from 12 states within the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and direct contract support in eight additional states. This helped to enhance the College’s financial base and established the College’s presence in the western region while redirecting the College’s admission procedures and increasing the WICHE support fee. During his presidency significant emphasis and great success was made in expanding the College’s faculty, research, residency programs, continuing education courses, student scholarships, awards and the magnitude of the endowments. Dr. Hopping is the recipient of many local, state and national awards within his communities, the profession and the ophthalmic industry. He served as president of the Ohio Optometric Association and is one of two individuals to serve as president of both the American Optometric Association, 1971–72, and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, 1983–85. He was the first person to have received the AOA Distinguished Service Award and the AOA National Optometrist of the Year Award. He is the author of the Optometric Oath, which was adopted by both the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and the American Optometric Association in 1986.
President, 1973-97; President Emeritus, 1997
Joined us in 1973
O.D., Southern College of Optometry, 1952
D.O.S., (hon.), Southern College of Optometry, 1972
D.Sc., (hon.), State University of New York, 1993
D.O.S., (hon.), Southern California College of Optometry, 2004
President, Ohio Optometric Association, 1964–65
President, American Optometric Association (AOA), 1971–72
President, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), 1983–85
Chief Coordinator and Consultant, Pathways in Optometry, AOA and Allergan, Inc., 1989–95
Chairman, Georgetown Conference, Summit on Optometric Education Conference Series AOA and ASCO, 1991–95
Author, Optometric Oath; Adopted by ASCO and AOA, 1986
Optometrist of the Year, Ohio 1962; California 1988; Great Western Council of Optometry 2003
Founder and Co-Chair, National Academies of Practice in Optometry, 1983; Distinguished Practitioner, 1983
Distinguished Achievement Award, American Public Health Association, Vision Care Section, 1984
National Optometrist of the Year, AOA, 1988
Dr. Raymond I. Myers Award, American Optometric Student Association, 1990
Eminent Service Award, American Academy of Optometry, 1991
Distinguished Service Award, AOA, 1993
Leo Award of Excellence in Global Eye Care, National Eye Research Foundation, 1995
Paul Yarwood Award, California Optometric Association, 1997
Award for Professional Distinction, SCCO, 1997
Inductee, National Optometry Hall of Fame, 2003
Patron, Fully Endowed, Dr. Richard L. Hopping Ethics Scholarship, 2004
SCCO Centennial Honoree, 2004
Dr. Richard L. Hopping was named president of the Southern California College of Optometry following an extensive presidential search. Prior to his selection, he was a successful practicing optometrist for 20 years in Dayton, Ohio, where he had an impressive record of involvement in health care, higher education, community service and politics.
During Dr. Hopping’s presidency, he expanded the influence and recruitment of the College on a national level. In addition to strengthening the College’s finances, he expanded the clinical program from two clinics to 82 clinics in 24 states to become the most extensive in the nation. He traveled throughout the country testifying on behalf of optometric legislation in 26 states and before Congress and major health agencies in Washington, D.C. Support was sought and obtained from 12 states within the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and direct contract support in eight additional states. This helped to enhance the College’s financial base and established the College’s presence in the western region while redirecting the College’s admission procedures and increasing the WICHE support fee. During his presidency significant emphasis and great success was made in expanding the College’s faculty, research, residency programs, continuing education courses, student scholarships, awards and the magnitude of the endowments. Dr. Hopping is the recipient of many local, state and national awards within his communities, the profession and the ophthalmic industry. He served as president of the Ohio Optometric Association and is one of two individuals to serve as president of both the American Optometric Association, 1971–72, and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, 1983–85. He was the first person to have received the AOA Distinguished Service Award and the AOA National Optometrist of the Year Award. He is the author of the Optometric Oath, which was adopted by both the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and the American Optometric Association in 1986.