Bogard

Craig and Lynn Ann,

I am thinking about you and praying for you.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116:15

13 November 2012
Craig and Lynn Ann,
I thank God for your continuing testimony to His grace in your ministry at Aslan and through your gracious words during the memorial service yesterday. Indeed, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Mr. Bogard's character continues in you.
The Isaiah 55 passage at the start of the service was also my beloved grandfather's favorite text from the Bible. Your lives testify that His word shall not return unto Him void.
As I teach some of the nicest youngsters imaginable at the New Mexico Military Institute, their blithe indifference to history and government portends a country far from what Mr. Bogard inspired us to respect and to love. God blessed us richly through him.

My mother shared hall duty with Ira Bogard, although I was one of those mischievous kids that was into one thing or the other, getting by okay with school lessons. I knew Ira Bogard as a sincere and plain-spoken teacher, and that should be enough, but looking back now I wish I could have known him better. Mother spoke highly of him always as have all of my friends. I knew there was something more than his straight-forward teaching, but then I read his biography and it tells tons more about his competitive spirit. And it tells us much about the good “old-fashioned way” truly outstanding teachers have. Ira Bogard came into this world in the toughest of circumstances, set his sights high, loved the competition as it came and achieved everything he intended to achieve. Today he is sitting on a fluffy white cloud looking down on us totally amazed and unsuspecting of the admiration so many of his students express and how he expressed it in his gift to us. Thank you, Lord, for these lessons and Ira Bogard, your dear teacher and gift to us.

Arlene, Dusty, and Craig, I am so sorry for your loss. The world has lost a great teacher. He was a major influence in my life. One of my favorite memories is when Ira and Arlene took Barry Stone, Jo Day Schlenker, and me (Carlene Briggs) to Austin to attend the Student Council Conference at the University of Texas. What a wonderful trip and learning experience we had in the summer of 1954. My heartfelt condolences to you and your families. PHS 1955 Class

I was fortunate to have been taught many history and civics classes by Ira. I was also fortunate to have been his student aide for several years at Portales High School. He taught me well and I later came to appreciate his humor and sometimes fiery temper. He touched my life and many others in a very positive way. We shall miss him.