The Rev. Canon John A. Logan Jr.

Logan was born on the 4th of August 1928, in La Grange, Texas, where in his youth he became an Eagle Scout and graduated from high school at the age of only 16. He enrolled at the University of Texas and completed law school at the age of 21. Although he aspired to become a lawyer, life led him onto a different path after he discovered the Episcopal Church his sophomore year and became an active member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Austin.

Logan entered Virginia Theological Seminary in 1950. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop John Hines in July 1953 at St. James, La Grange, and he became an ordained priest in July 1954 at Good Shepherd, Austin. Logan served churches in Austin, Waco, and Houston, and earned an MA from the University of Virginia, studying religion in literature. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from the Seminary of the Southwest in May 2016.

“Canon Logan is an icon of faithfulness,” reflected Bishop Dena Harrison on that occasion. “His love for God and for God’s Church has inspired generations of Episcopalians to greater faith and service, and his devotion to the Diocese of Texas and its history has enriched our common life in countless ways.”

On June 24, 1979, Christ Church Cathedral welcomed Logan onto their staff, where he served as Sub Dean under Dean Pittman McGehee for more than a decade and as Acting Dean during McGehee’s sabbatical. McGehee often quipped that he “may have led the Cathedral but John ran it.” Logan continued to serve with Deans Walter Taylor, Joe Reynolds, and Barkley Thompson and was greatly loved for his grouchy exterior, tremendous wit, vast knowledge, thoughtful sermons, and affinity for all things Dachshund and Corgi. “It is difficult to fathom what the Cathedral might be without John’s long presence and influence,” said the Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral.

In addition to his Cathedral work, Logan served as Secretary for the Diocese of Texas beginning in 1986, taking his place on the dais at diocesan councils for almost 35 years and keeping track of minutes and reports from the multitude of meetings that keep a diocese running. From 1996 to 2000, Logan also served Bishop Claude Payne as Canon to the Ordinary until reaching mandatory clergy retirement age at 72. For twenty years thereafter, he continued to go to his office at the diocese almost every day, “retirement” not being entirely in his vocabulary. He was named Canon Emeritus for the Cathedral and the Diocese in 2000. Over the course of the more than 67 years of his ministry, Logan served seven of the nine bishops in the history of the Diocese of Texas.

Logan authored the book Dowered with Gifts: The Second Quarter of the Second Century of Christ Church Cathedral. A firm believer that faith must lead to action, he was a major power behind the founding of an outreach program to Houston’s homeless population called COMPASS, now part of The Beacon downtown. For many years, he led a group dubbed “Johnny’s Walkers” in Houston’s annual AIDS walk and raised over $85,000 for the AIDS Foundation.

The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of the Diocese of Texas, has stated, "For 18 years my mornings in the diocesan office began with a coffee and visit with Canon Logan. He is a friend and partner in ministry that I will personally miss. His faithfulness to the Episcopal Church and loyalty to the Diocese of Texas was a gift to us all and in ways of service too numerous to count and much of it unknown to our membership. I’m eternally grateful for a working relationship that grew from a mentorship to a loyal supporter and friend. Jo and I will miss him."

Logan is survived by his niece Dr. Lucia Leigh Williams, her children Lauren, Sion Alexander, and Eleanor, and by his nephew Dr. John P. Williams (married to Valerie Trott Williams) and his daughter Brynna Wasserman.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 2nd of October, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed towards the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas St., Houston, TX 77002; or to the AIDS Foundation Houston, 6260 Westpark Drive, Ste. 100, Houston, TX 77057; or to The Beacon Homeless Services, 1117 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002.