Our Co-Founder, CEO, President and Friend
Walter James “Jim” Hogan
Our beloved Jim Hogan passed from Earth to Heaven on October 30, 2021, a month and six days before his 90th birthday.
Jim was a native of Caldwell County, the owner/operator of Joyceton Water Works, and the former owner/operator of Appalachian Outdoor Advertising. When he and his family decided to sell Appalachian to Lamar, they used much of the proceeds to establish the Hogan Family Foundation (2001) to serve Caldwell County.
Jim was born in 1931, graduated from McCallie Military Academy of Tennessee in 1950, and from Davidson College in 1954, with a degree in Physics. He married Marie Bach in 1959, and they had two children, James and John. They were married 53 years until Marie’s death in 2012. He is also a descendant of General William Lenoir of Revolutionary War fame.
In 1983, Jim was asked to join the Board of The Patterson School, Inc., established in 1909, by the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina.
From 1983 on, you could find Jim often on Campus, trimming the historic boxwoods, weed-eating, mowing, raking leaves, cleaning, repairing plumbing, heating, and electric issues, etc., including the School’s licensed water system. There has been no Campus need that he has not been willing to address since he joined the School Board. All of his Patterson School work was as a volunteer, with no financial compensation. Instead, Jim and his wife contributed large sums to the School to help maintain operations.
Without Jim Hogan, there would be no Patterson School Foundation, and no Patterson School Campus. In 1994, when the Diocese decided to sell the School and its 1400+ acres, Jim tracked down the only heir, Betty Patterson Medlin, who could block the sale. Jim and Marie then joined with Betty & George and one other couple to form the non-profit 501(c)(3) “Patterson School Foundation, Inc.” (PSF), in order to buy the School and preserve the property.
PSF borrowed $1.2 million from two local banks to purchase the School, and Jim signed as guarantor. Jim and Marie alone made the loan payments for many years—more than 2 decades. Jim was immediately elected President and CEO, the position he carried the for the rest of his life.
If it were not for Jim and his associates, The Patterson School Campus would likely have disappeared shortly after 1994.
Jim was the quiet, stalwart citizen that is so valuable in our society. He has owned and operated businesses which gave employment to local citizens, and has generously shared his wealth with many charitable organizations and unknown needy individuals. He is the most humble and generous man we have ever known.
Since at least 1994, Jim Hogan has saved one of the jewels of Caldwell County and North Carolina—The Patterson School and her Campus, and quietly went about day by day, just doing what needed to be done. For the 38 years he served our School, he never looked for, nor sought recognition, but most certainly deserved it. His passing leaves us brokenhearted, but determined to carry on here at his beloved Patterson School!
