Capt John T Hoggard, Medical Corps, USA

Dr. John Thomas Hoggard (1876-1965) was a Renaissance man. His interests and careers included business, education, medicine and politics. He had a long and illustrious career as a physician and surgeon. He served his country ably in the Spanish-American War and was attached to Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders" in an artillery support role and again in World War I as a military hospital's commanding officer. After completing his military service, Dr. Hoggard practiced medicine in Aulander, Atkinson and Wilmington, NC until he retired from the profession in 1949. During his years of professional service, he was active in medical associations on the local, state and national levels. His major business interest was banking. Dr. Hoggard helped to organize the Morris Plan Bank of Wilmington, which later became the Bank of Wilmington. He served as vice-president of the bank for many years and was also local chairman of the board of directors of the North Carolina National Bank. Other business interests included founding and serving as president of the New Hanover Housing Corporation; founder of Toms Drug Company - a Wilmington drugstore; a partner in Hoggard Brothers, Aulander, NC; and a director of Cooperative Savings and Loan Association, Wilmington, NC.

Dr. Hoggard was also very active in numerous social and civic organizations. Among his affiliations were:  the Wilmington Board of Finance; President of the Brigade Boys’ Club of Wilmington; Kiwanis Club; Free and Accepted Masons; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Cape Fear Club; Cape Fear Country Club; Woodmen of the World; American Legion; Chamber of Commerce; Wilmington Historical Society; Phi Chi; Phi Kappa Alpha; BPOE; Carolina Yacht Club; Surf Club and the Democratic Party. 

His career in education began with his election as Chairman of the New Hanover County (NC) Board of Education in 1935. Dr. Hoggard served in this capacity until 1952. While chairman, he was very instrumental in bringing about the founding of Wilmington College (NC) in 1947. Dr. Hoggard directed the operations of the College as Chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Education from 1947-1952. He assumed the presidency of the college and the chairmanship of the board of trustees in 1952. In 1958, Dr. Hoggard retired as president but retained his position as chairman of the board of trustees until his death in 1965. Under his leadership, Wilmington College grew from a small local junior college to a four-year state institution of higher education. Dr. Hoggard was active in acquiring the 610 acre tract of land on Highway 132 that became the permanent site of the college. When the state authorized Wilmington College to grant baccalaureate degrees in 1963, he actively recruited new faculty and also helped with the curriculum. Today, Wilmington College is known as the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Due to his extensive, lifetime contributions, John T Hoggard High School is proudly named after him.