Arthur Watterson Hoppe (April 23, 1925 – February 1, 2000) was a popular columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle for more than 40 years.

As a reporter, he scooped other papers by skiing out with a photographer to the City of San Francisco train when it became snowbound in the Sierra in January 1952.

[1] At the peak of its popularity, Hoppe's column appeared in the Chronicle five days a week and was syndicated in more than 100 newspapers nationwide.

On his own initiative, he released fellow Chronicle columnist Herb Caen from a mutual vow to accept a special 1996 Pulitzer Prize.

[2] He died from complications of lung cancer in February 2000, aged 74, survived by his wife Gloria and four children.