WILLIAM "BILL" HOGBEN

HOGBEN, WILLIAM "BILL" On January 27, 2011, at age 90, Bill Hogben passed away. He is survived by daughter Susan Harlan (Dan) and son Russell Hogben (Kathy); and grandchildren Alison Rose, Delaney Rose and Laura Hogben. Bill lived a charmed life, and he'd be the first to agree. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. His father was a salesman, his mother a homemaker. Bill was an only child. He spent much of his youth playing sports and hanging out at the Mission Hills Country Club. A skilled basketball player, he was recruited to attend the University of Kansas, where, in 1941, he graduated with a degree in Marketing. At six-feet one, Bill was the second tallest player on the KU team, which distinguished itself by reaching the finals of the 1940 NCAAs (only in its second year; Bill scored four points in the Jayhawks loss to Indiana). The team was coached by Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, the KU Athletic Director was James Naismith, who, in 1891, invented the game of basketball. Bill served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until 1946. He was assigned to the USS Argus, a 210-foot yacht formerly owned by Mrs. Max Fleischmann (think margarine and teakwood decks). He resided in San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel while stationed at Treasure Island, patrolling the Pacific waters halfway to Hawaii and back. Another assignment involved captaining a Sydney-based tuna boat, hauling fresh food (and beer) to South Pacific sailors. As a dashing and not shy Navy officer, somehow Bill was asked to accompany Harry Truman's daughter Margaret to a formal Independence, MO event. And he did. After the service, with $5,000 in his pocket, Bill and a friend decided to take a year off-- to play golf. Their mission: to play at least 18 holes every day. Their home club was on the border of Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Half the course was in a dry county and the other was in a wet county (the golf course was on the dry side, the clubhouse was on the wet side, Bill once explained). Golfing exploits behind, Bill worked for a few years as a Merrill Lynch (Smith) stockbroker. In 1947 Bill married Janet Hines. They were married 49 years, until Janet died, in 1997. From 1948 until retiring in 1982, Bill worked as an appliance salesman for G.E., Philco-Ford and RCA. Because of the Midwest weather, mostly, Bill and Janet decided to move to California, settling first in Los Angeles, then, a year later, moving to San Diego (Point Loma, actually). In the winter of 2007, some tennis friends took Bill back to KU to attend a game. Unbeknownst to Bill, the KU athletic dept gave him a suitable homecoming, highlighted by his introduction during the game. An undergraduate black-and-white photo of Bill was displayed on the jumbo video scoreboard, followed by live video of him in the stands. Sixteen thousand Jayhawk fans stood to applaud. Athletics remained a passion throughout Bill's life. He played senior slow-pitch softball from the late '80s through the '90s, during which time his team, the San Diego Silver Hawks, won seven (or eight) senior softball World Series titles. And for several decades he was a constant midday fixture on court #7 at the Peninsula Tennis Club in Robb Field in Ocean Beach. Noteworthy Bill facts: Bill claimed that he was named Bill because he was born on June 1st. Bill's service toss never seemed to leave his hand. Bill could grow orchids. Bill limited his breakfast choices to Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. Bill's steaks appeared by magic on his front porch, postmarked Omaha. At age 16, Bill owned a tux. Bill's high school dates were often recipients of handsome corsages, thanks to his best friend's father, who was a mortician. Bill once accompanied 100 Australian war brides on a ship to England (Bill got off in New York). Bill played basketball in Madison Square Garden. Nobody can recall when Bill turned down an invitation to do something. Bill was one of the friendliest, most positive people anyone could hope to know. He rarely, if ever, had a bad thing to say about another person. He was optimistic and upbeat, kind, forgiving, hopeful (a loyal Padres fan), honest and humble, Bill Hogben was an inspiring and inspired person. No services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made in Bill's name to your favorite charity.