Dan Hogan III

Our beloved father, Dan Hogan III, a most extraordinary man, passed away on February 11, 2025, merely 50 days after losing the love of his life, his wife, Sarah Maddox Hogan. Dan’s life was a testament to both intangible and tangible rewards reaped from a life of stewardship to family, friends, and community, with God at the helm. A true gentleman who loved deeply, Dan was a man of quiet faith and possessed a great capacity to embrace life’s joys, opportunities, and blessings. He sailed through life with spiritual gratitude.

In Dan and Sarah’s Oklahoma City home, a cherished painting holds a place of honor above the fireplace. This artwork, a depiction of a 1874 colonial trading ship navigating coastal waters by British artist John Bentham Dinsdale, symbolizes Dan’s passion for boating, his love for the sea, and his adventurous spirit, which concomitantly, was his role as the captain of his proverbial ship throughout life. He navigated both calm seas, as well as rougher waves with internal strength and confidence. He was always collected and in control when confronted with challenges. As his family crew was of the utmost importance to him, he took great pride in their development; the children and grandchildren valued his guidance, wisdom, advice, and ceaseless instruction on sailing life’s waters. Those who are suffering from the loss of their patriarchal helmsman are his much beloved sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Erica, Brad and Ciane, and Blake and Shawn, and his beloved daughter, Lisa and son-in-law Griff, his ten grandchildren, Sommer, Dylan, Kate, Sam, Caton, Daniel, Lauren, Blake Jr., Finn and Max, and his three great-grandchildren, Liza, James, and Audrey. We, his children and grandchildren, will deeply miss our father and grandfather’s enduring wisdom, his infectious smile, unwavering support, and heartwarming embraces.

Reflecting on Dan's remarkable life, it's clear that his entrepreneurial spirit and love for people were the cornerstones of his success. Dan never knew a stranger. His affability, his minute-to minute love for life, and astute business sense were a winning equation for engendering the undying love and support of his beloved wife, Sarah, sons, daughter, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends, as well as business colleagues, government and community leaders. According to his elementary classmates, Dan was always the life of the class. Throughout Classen High School, he still maintained that zest for fun, often bordering on mischief. At the University of Oklahoma and as a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Dan maintained his commitment to living life to its fullest. Friends later in life ascribed his magical touch in business that began with little means, to his convivial personality. It was his love for people and optimism that catapulted Dan to a level of success that then allowed him to give back to those in need.

Born during the Great Depression in Oklahoma City, on October 30, 1933, to Dan Hogan II and Beatrice Cleoa Kersey, Dan’s upbringing during this challenging period had a profound impact on his life, shaping his values and work ethic. As a young boy, Dan dreamed of becoming a pilot one day and serving his country. Dan’s entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly even from a young age. Growing up during the Great Depression, he found a unique way to contribute to his family and community. Dan would collect frogs from his grandfather’s pond to sell them to local restaurants. This venture turned out to be quite profitable for a boy his age and marked the beginning of his journey as a successful businessman. Upon graduating from Classen High School, he pursued a degree in finance from the University of Oklahoma. While at the University of Oklahoma, Dan met Sarah Maddox Caton, on a blind date. It was love at first sight for Dan, while it took a few additional dates for Sarah to fall in love with Dan. After two years of dating, Dan and Sarah were married in a double wedding ceremony with Sarah’s older sister, Mary Elizabeth Wilson, at Crown Heights Methodist Church, in Oklahoma City, on April 1, 1955. Following their honeymoon, Dan joined the United States Air Force and entered flight training school, thereby fulfilling his boyhood dreams. He trained in Homestead, Florida, at Strategic Air Command (SAC), and was assigned to the 379th Bombardment Wing (BW), rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. Dan served three years in the Air Force, returning to Oklahoma City with Sarah and their first child, Randy. The children and grandchildren shared that their father and grandfather loved sharing stories with them about his time flying B-47 Stratojet for the U.S. Air Force after the Korean War.

As valuable as his military service and experience was to his life, the greatest co-pilot and ship co-captain was his wife, Sarah. When gathered for family dinner parties, Dan never failed to declare to his children that it was the best decision of his life to marry their beloved mother. She was his greatest advocate and always by his side. It was Sarah and Dan, quite the marital team, that initiated both financial success and indomitable community leadership. It was of no surprise to family and friends that Dan passed away merely two months after his beloved Sarah.

Together, Dan and Sarah’s visionary leadership and philanthropic dedication were instrumental in shaping the revitalization of Oklahoma City’s downtown. With unswerving contributions of time, energy and resources, the following benefited by the immutable commitment of both Sarah and Dan: the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Oklahoma City Ballet, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Lyric Theatre, the Oklahoma Science Museum, Tinker Air Force Base, and the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Dan was a man of boundless enthusiasm and a heart full of love for his family. His adventurous spirit knew no bounds, and he was always ready to go the extra mile to bring joy to his loved ones. This was never more evident than the time he seriously considered acquiring a baby elephant for his young daughter. Dan's fascination with zoo life was so profound that he had to be gently dissuaded by the zoo director from bringing the elephant home to be raised in their backyard. But this encapsulates Dan Hogan and his winning perspective on life; nothing is impossible nor inaccessible. His sage advice to family and friends was to approach dreams and desires with a positive attitude followed by action.

Dan’s professional journey was marked by significant achievements and leadership roles. He served as the chairman of the board of the Journal Record Publishing Company from April 1972 to May 1998. Prior to this, he was the president of Cheatham Furniture Manufacturing Company, from 1966 to 1970, and vice president of Liberty National Bank and Trust Company from 1964 to 1966. Following his service to his country in the U.S. Air Force, his civilian career began as an account executive at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc. from 1958 to 1964.

Dan’s support of the arts and culture, pre-K-12 education, university-level education, the sciences, medical research, animal well-being, environmental conservation, and historic preservation was demonstrated through his roles as past president of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, the Economic Club of Oklahoma, president of the Oklahoma Air and Space Museum, executive and past president of the Kirkpatrick Center, trustee of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, and the State Fair Board of Oklahoma, trustee and past president of the Oklahoma City Economic Development Foundation, trustee of Oklahoma City University, director and past president of the Oklahoma Science and Arts Foundation, the Kirkpatrick Science and Air Museum at Omniplex, director of the Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America, member of the Oklahoma Press Association, and American and National Newspaper Publishers’ Association, and Committee of 100.

Dan also dedicated his energies and passions, serving as director and past chairman of the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce, trustee and executive committee of Baptist Medical Center, and Oklahoma Health Care Corporation, president of the American Court and Commercial Newspaper Association, president of the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, chairman of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Oklahoma Chapter co-chairman of Oklahoma Futures, director and executive committee chairman of the Kirkpatrick Center, director of the Allied Arts Foundation, chairman of the Allied Arts Annual Fund Drive, chairman of the Nichols Hills Planning Commission, chairman of the Junior League Community Advisory Board, chairman of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine research dinner, advisory board member to the University of Oklahoma College of Business, vice chairman and board of trustees to Casady School, chairman of the development committee of the Capital Fund drive at Oklahoma City University, trustee of the Oklahoma Industries Authority, administrative board member of Nichols Hills Methodist Church, president of the Fortune Club, director and vice president of the United Way of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Governor’s Committee on State Government Reorganization, Governor’s Committee to Save the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, director of Stockyards National Bank, director of Mutual Federal Savings and Loan, director of Liberty National Bank, and advisory director of Mercy Hospital.

Dan was the recipient of the Outstanding Layman Award of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1973 and in 1974, and the Humanitarian Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1983.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Sarah and Dan’s assistant, George, who has shown boundless love, compassion and care to our beloved parents for seventeen years. George’s unwavering love, support, and devotion to Dan and Sarah has been a blessing to our family. We would also like to express our deep appreciation to Monica for the love and devotion shown to our father and mother for five years. George and Monica’s presence in their lives has been a godsend. We also wish to express our appreciation to the extraordinary team of assistants, Michael, Starr, Patsy and Maria, who cared for Dan and Sarah.

To memorialize the greatness of Dan Hogan is to concomitantly celebrate a marriage of unparalleled love, devotion and a partnership based on shared compassion for others. Together, Dan and Sarah celebrated life! While the love story of a most remarkable team has moved on to a heavenly realm, we rejoice in their profound mark on our lives and thank the Lord for their glorious example set forth for us all. Let it be forever said of Dan Hogan that he beautifully reflected God’s desire for all of us to walk in gratitude for the gift of life, to cherish our multitude of blessings, especially family and friends, and to do all such good works as He has prepared for us to do while on this Earth.

“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter thou into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:23

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the charity of your choice.

The family will celebrate Dan’s life with a memorial service on Saturday, February 15, at 1:00 p.m., at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, 1212 Bedford Drive, Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, 73116.