John Hardie Hoagland

Dr. John H. Hoagland
East Lansing, Michigan

Dr. John H. Hoagland, Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University who helped develop several data sets widely used by economists and business analysts today in gauging the health of manufacturing activity, died on March 6 in East Lansing, Michigan. He was 93. According to the family, he died of natural causes. Dr. Hoagland, who taught at Michigan State's Broad College of Business from 1952 to 1990, was a pioneer in the field of supply management. Throughout his long career, the well-known teacher and researcher brought scholarship and recognition to the field that encompasses manufacturing operations, purchasing, transportation, and distribution. He was particularly noteworthy for advancing the study of purchasing - how companies acquire supplies most efficiently and how these decisions affect the larger economy. Dr. Hoagland initiated the first major in purchasing management at MSU, and now the purchasing curriculum at Michigan State's Broad College of Business is widely considered to have the top supply-chain program in the world. Also, the Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI), which Dr. Hoagland helped develop, is a regular component of economic analysis worldwide, used by leaders in both business and government.

Dr. Hoagland and his first doctoral student, Harold Fearon, established at MSU the first executive seminar in purchasing and materials management (now Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Executive Seminar). For more than 50 years, thousands of purchasing executives from the US and abroad have attended this, the longest running MSU executive program.

In 2004 former student Richard Metzler launched the Hoagland - Metzler Endowed Chair in Purchasing and Supply Management in honor of his former advisor and professor. The goal was to attract outstanding researchers and teachers in the field of supply management to teach at MSU. Dr. Hoagland and Mr. Metzler also initiated the Supply Chain Management Endowed Scholarship / Fellowship Fund for students interested in purchasing or the purchasing aspect of supply chain management. I

n recognition of his contributions to the field of purchasing management Dr. Hoagland was awarded the ISM J. Shipman Gold Medal Award; the NAPM Professorship; and the Garner-Themoin Gold Medal from the International Federation of Purchasing and Materials Management (now the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management). In 2010 the ISM created the John H. Hoagland Award for Distinguished Service, honoring outstanding contributions to the field of supply management in recognition of his impact on the field and his advancement of the ISM Business Survey Committee. In addition, the NAPM of Central Michigan bestows an annual Dr. John H. Hoagland Scholarship to qualified students in the purchasing field. Dr. Hoagland was awarded the MSU Honorary Alumni Award in 2003 for his service to the university.

John Hardie Hoagland was born December 22, 1919 in Woodhaven, Queens, New York. The son of Edna (Hardie) and Henry E. Hoagland, John grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio and Washington, D.C. and graduated from Oberlin College. He served as an officer (radar specialist) in the US Navy in the Pacific in World War II under Admiral Halsey. After the war Dr. Hoagland received an MBA from Harvard Business School and Ph.D from the Ohio State University.

John Hoagland is survived by his wife of 69 years, Carolyn (Talbot); four children (John T., Anne Magoun, James H. and Nancy L.); seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Hoagland Gruen.

A memorial service for the family is planned for this summer. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice .

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com.