James H. "Big Jim" Hooper

Butte Football Club

Guard

1893 - 1897

"The Auburn-Haired Giant" as he was sometimes called, Jim Hooper was as dominant as they come and intimidating as well.  Standing 6'3" and weighing 215 pounds, this former Michigan man had a reputation that proceeded him and at some times left him on the sidelines for "slugging".  Big Jim was so good at football in 1895 that he was called back to Michigan to play for his alma mater in the final 9 games where he started at left guard and led the team to a victory over Harvard.  Returning to Montana following the final Michigan game, he picked right back up playing for Butte.

His final games in the Northwest would be the 1897 season as he made his way to New Mexico to become a supervisor in one of the largest mining operations in the southwest.  He was not yet 30 years old.