If you have never heard the story of ROCK, it is one of divine connections, selfless giving and many, many special heroes that came alongside founder and CEO, Dr. Nancy Krenek’s dream. Without each and every one of them bringing their giftings, expertise and generosity to the table, ROCK would not be where it is today; touching lives and helping people.
One of our special heroes was, and is, Army Sgt. Merlin Hoppe, a decorated World War II veteran who fought under General George Patton. Fighting Hitler’s troops on the Rhine River, Sgt. Hoppe was shot several times and escaped enemy forces when his friends dragged him into a nearby barn where he waited almost 3 days for medical attention.
Merlin Hoppe was awarded the Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 87th Infantry Division during World War II,” the Bronze Star, “for heroic achievement in action against and armed enemy,” and the Purple Heart for his service to our country.
When Nancy Krenek met Merlin Hoppe in 1994, it was for the building of a treehouse for her children, but she had no idea how much Mr. Hoppe would impact her life and the future of ROCK, that was just a dream at that point in time.
As Merlin built the treehouse, Nancy continually asked him about his service history, and even though he was reluctant to share his secrets, he did eventually open up to Nancy and share his heroic story.
When the dream of ROCK needed a mounting ramp, it was Merlin Hoppe that helped design and build it in Nancy’s garage.
“He helped teach my son construction and continued to build buildings, and arenas and put in lights and plumbing at ROCK. He could outwork all of us as he showed up at my house early in the morning for coffee, and then later at ROCK, we would dig trenches or put in electricity. So much of the foundation of what we have now is due to his hard, one-manned work. When the first covered arena was built in 2006, ROCK’s Board of Directors unanimously named it the, ‘Merlin Hoppe Arena.'” -Nancy Krenek
In 2003 Merlin Hoppe suffered a stroke, and it was then he became a participant at ROCK, and he eventually rode in the arena that was named after him, to work on his recovery and rehabilitation. It was there that we saw him get his language and the use of his right hand back, all from the work he put in, in partnership with the horse.
In 2017 the City of Georgetown honored Sgt. Merlin Hoppe by flying an American flag over the city in his honor.
Merlin Hoppe passed away in 2019 at the age of 94. We miss you Mr. Hoppe. A hero, our hero.
Meet Rock Participant, Wynter