Frederick S. Hopkins, Jr. was born on June 12, 1922 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He received his B.S.F. (1946) in Forestry, B.B.A. in Business (1947), and M.F. in Forestry (1947) degrees from the University of Michigan and Ph. D. in Forestry Economics (1959) from Syracuse University. His professional experience consisted of the positions of instructor (1958-1959) at the SUNY College of Forestry and Procurement Officer (1947-1950) with the True Temper Corporation. He was an Assistant Professor (1950-1954) at the University of Vermont. He was an instructor at Syracuse University (1954-1959). Hopkins arrived at Iowa State University in 1959 as an assistant professor (1959-1962). He was promoted to Associate Professor (1962-1977) and Professor of Forestry in 1977. He began phased retirement on July 1, 1984.

From 1975-1976, Hopkins was with the Iowa Universities Mission in Lima, Peru, and was awarded a merit of honor diploma by the government of Peru in 1976. In 1978 he received an outstanding adviser award in the ISU College of Agriculture.

He was a member of the Society of American Foresters, American Forestry Association, Forest History Society, Xi Sigma Pi, Sigma Xi, and Gamma Sigma Delta.

Hopkins was awarded the Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Adviser (1979) and Iowa State University Alumni Association Faculty Citation (1985) awards.

He married Patricia Ann Honn on June 23, 1946. They had four children: Frederick III, Martha, Sara Ann and Stephen.