Dr. James Jim ‘Hoppy’ King Harrower
Nov. 21, 1933 — Feb. 22, 2024
Dr. James King Harrower Jr., known as “Jim” in Wyoming and “Hoppy” in Alaska, was born to James K., and Alice E. Harrower, in Gillette, Wyo., on Nov. 21, 1933. He lived with his family at the Willow Creek Ranger Station north of Cora, Wyo., prior to moving to Pinedale once his older sister Jean reached school age. Jim attended school in Pinedale, at the University of Wyoming for premedical studies and the University of Oregon School of Dentistry.
Throughout his youth, he enjoyed the outdoors where he hunted, fished, skied, climbed all the Tetons and many peaks in the Wind River Range, and was one of the early climbers of Devils Tower.
Jim practiced dentistry in Wyoming, Montana, Alaska and California, which afforded him the means to pursue his true passions of flying and hunting. He became a master guide in Alaska hunting sheep, moose, caribou, grizzly and polar bear for more than five decades, establishing the Stony River Lodge in the Alaska Range where he operated his flying and guiding service, Northward Bound.
He was quite successful, securing numerous record book trophies for his clients and voted the outstanding Alaska Guide in 2008. He became a highly regarded bush pilot, logging more than 20,000 hours of time over Alaska and the Arctic Ocean between Russia and the United States. He also enjoyed aerobatic flying, competing for several years in the Reno Air Races.
Jim lived a true life of adventure that witnessed him detained in a Cuban prison with his friend Tony Oney, tagging crocodiles in Australia, riding rough stock in rodeos and serving as a member of Los Rancheros Visitadores.
Jim is survived by his daughters Kari and Kathy, his son Robert, his younger brother Bob, of Pinedale, his younger sister Ruth, of Cheyenne, and numerous nieces and nephews.
