Dr. James King "Hoppy" or "Jim" Harrower

Nov 21, 1933 -

Feb 22, 2024

Dr. James Harrower, also known by friends as Hoppy or Jim, 90, died on Feb. 22, 2024, in Crawford, Neb., from natural causes. He was a dentist, aviator, master guide and adventurer who lived in Alaska for decades.

A Wyoming native, Jim was born in 1933, and grew up in Pinedale near the Wind River Mountains. After graduating from University of Oregon Dental School in 1958, he worked as a dentist for the U.S. Public Health Service, Bureau of Indian Health in Wyoming, Montana, and Tanana, Alaska. In 1960, he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to practice dentistry and soon after became a pilot and a guide. These endeavors often were alongside his good friend from dental school, Dr. Tony Oney.

Jim's lifelong dream was to practice dentistry in Alaska in such a way that he could be involved with the outdoors as much as possible. He became a well-known Alaska guide and an accomplished bush pilot. Jim guided sheep, moose, bear and caribou hunts. He felt he had the best of both worlds, spending summer seasons out in the wilds of Alaska and the winters in Anchorage working as an associate dentist.

In the 1970s, Jim launched Northward Bound and developed a wilderness lodge in Western Alaska along the Stony River, west of Merrill Pass. As a Master Guide, Jim was able to train and certify other guides and that is where he made many lifelong friends. He served on several boards and committees related to game management and hunting ethics. He received the APHA Simmons-Waugh Guide Award for outstanding guide in 2008.

He left Alaska in 2000, and moved to Pine Creek Ranch in Northern California. He enjoyed reading, researching, writing and storytelling in his later years.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Alice; and sister, Mary Jean. Jim is survived by his two daughters, Kathy and Kari; son, Robert; brother, Bob; sister, Ruth (Pete); and many nieces and nephews.