GOGAN, William L.

Vistoso Funeral Home, Oro Valley, Arizona William L. Gogan, 89, of Ord NE passed away Tuesday, September 25 at his winter home in Oro Valley, AZ. Dr. Gogan was born on June 24, 1923 in Lindsay, NE to William Sr. and Antoinette (Formanek) Gogan. He graduated from Arcadia High School (1940), received his Bachelor's Degree from Kearney State College (1949), Master's degree from the University of Southern California (1951) and his Doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1964. He served for three years in the U.S. Navy during World War ll and was aboard the destroyer USS Zellars DD-777 that was struck by a kamikaze plane during the invasion of Okinawa. He married Gladys Kokes on June 2, 1955 in Ord where he taught social studies and coached the 1955 football team to a state championship. He was a teacher and varsity basketball coach in Scottsbluff (NE), was principal of Gering High School (NE), assistant principal of Chandler High School (AZ), and principal of Drake Jr. High School (CO). In 1968 he moved back to Ord where his career in education had begun and where he served as Superintendent of Schools for 21 years until his retirement in 1989. Dr. Gogan was an Adjunct Professor in School Administration at Kearney State College from 1987-1996. He was a past President of the Nebraska Association of School Administrators as well as past Vice President of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. From 1980-1989 he served as a Board of Control member for the Nebraska School Activities Association and was a life member of the National Education Association and the Nebraska Association of Retired School Administrators. Over his lifetime he had been a member of the Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska State Education Associations, American Association of School Administrators, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Club, Knights of Columbus and the Ord Catholic Church. The National Executive Educator honored Dr. Gogan as one of the Outstanding Educators in 1984 and 1989. He also received the Distinguished Service Award in 1989 from the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and the Outstanding Leadership Award in 1983 from the Nebraska Association of School Administrators. His life was dedicated to his family and to his career in education. He will be remembered, loved, respected and missed as an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, friend, educator, mentor, brother and son.