Jim S. Hogan

1922 - 2012

JIM S. HOGAN, age 89, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2012 in Houston, Texas. He was born in Orange County, Texas on November 19, 1922 to Virgil and Verletta Pennington Hogan, the third of six children. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Melvid and Robert, and sister, Adrienne Mize. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, WIlladeen and three children, Beth, Brad, and Barry and wife, Elizabeth; granddaughter, Regina June, and great grandchildren, Hogan and Jillian June, all of the Houston area; his brother, Alton Glen Hogan of LaPorte, Texas, and sister, Betty Merle Day, of Orlando, Florida.
Jim graduated from Orange High School and enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp in June, 1942. He was accepted for pilot training and commissioned in March, 1943, at the age of 20. He was an accomplished instrument pilot and instructor, serving over four years in the military, honorably discharged with the rank of Captain in 1946. He followed that training into civilian life as a corporate pilot for Fish Engineering Corporation for five years. He entered a training program for engineering and worked for Fish for twenty two years, retiring as Vice President.
In 1969, he formed Val Verde Corporation, which provided engineering services for the oil and gas industry and developed designs for modular oil refineries which they built and installed in several states and foreign countries. The company continued in business over thirty years until his retirement at 77. In the late 1970's, he started a business for the reclamation and clean-up of petroleum wastes which grew to become the current DuraTherm that operates domestic and international processing units including the largest oil recovery facility for refinery waste located in Texas City.
Jim was a prolific inventor with an inquiring mind and the inventor of record of over 30 years United States Patents. Until shortly before his death, he continued to pursue studies that interested him, always learning and exploring ideas. He was also passionate about the land and enjoyed times with his family at his ranch south of Bastrop. He is dearly loved and will be missed beyond measure by his family.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday, June 1, 2012, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit). Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 2, 2012, in the Morrow Chapel of The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, with the Rev. M. Eugene Vickrey, officiating. Interment will follow on Monday, June 4, 2012, in Coolidge, Texas.