Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News

For a subject that many students dread, John Hogg made chemistry accessible to thousands of people. Whether it was his humor or his uncanny ability to teach complex concepts, his former students said Hogg's chemistry was something to enjoy, not fear.

Hogg, a professor of chemistry at Texas A&M since 1975 and chief adviser to undergraduate chemistry majors since 1985, died Jan. 19.

Hogg began his career at A&M as an assistant professor pursuing a research program, and he did it successfully, said Michael Rosnyk, a chemistry professor and associate head of the department. But as Hogg progressed, he became more involved with students and transitioned to teaching and advising full time.

"He developed a reputation during that time to being committed to his students and being passionate about his advising," Rosnyk said. "As a result, the rest of the faculty respected him very much because he was doing a very important but very difficult job - interacting with so many of the undergraduate chemistry majors."

With a personal approach and a humorous style, Hogg was admired by many students - chemistry majors and non-majors alike.

"I hate organic chemistry with a passion, but he made it fun," said Erin Cochran-Kowaleski, class of 2007. "I never once missed a lecture, because he was my professor. I went in there every day because I knew we were going to have fun and he would do something outrageous or say something goofy. I wanted to be in class for that, it made me want to learn. I felt like I didn't want to disappoint him."

Humor in the classroom rarely escaped Hogg, and according to postings of students on a Facebook group created in his memory, events ranging from a song about not wearing underwear to any number of explosions happened frequently. Hogg was especially known for his songs about chemistry, usually to the tune of the Aggie War Hymn, said Cameron Hall, a class of 2004 chemistry graduate.

As an adviser, Hogg was known for dropping everything to help his students, sometimes to the frustration of his secretary.

"I knew how lucky I was to have an adviser where I knew the phrase 'my door is always open' was more than just a line," Hall said.

"It was never hard to get into his office," said Katie Regan, class of 2007. "Even if you came into his office to talk about academics, you would end up staying for 45 more minutes, talking about something else and definitely laughing. He never failed to make anybody laugh."

Regan, with a story similar to many students in A&M's chemistry department, said that Hogg convinced her to stick with the chemistry program, and that changed her life. During her sophomore year, Regan wanted to quit chemistry and change her major, but Hogg told her to stick with it, and though she was having a tough time, she could make it. As a result, Regan studies chemistry as a graduate student at Rice University.

A&M's Chemistry Roadshow, a traveling educational program, was an essential recruiting tool for the chemistry department, Rosnyk said. Created by Hogg in 1985, the show started by visiting Bryan-College Station schools, but developed into a statewide exhibition. From colorful lights to bubbling liquids to big explosions, the roadshow was Hogg's effort to bring chemistry to children. According to A&M's College of Science, more than 2,000 people a year saw the roadshow.

"This was our most important outreach activity over the years. So many grade school and high school teachers and students got to know our department. It had a big effect on recruiting chemistry majors for A&M specifically, but also undergraduates in general," Rosnyk said.

Although Hogg was honored with numerous teaching awards - including the University Professor for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence, Association of Former Students Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award and the Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence - he was noted for his humility.

"He was never one to flash [his awards] in your face," Cochran-Kowaleski said. "He knew he was good at what he did, but he was so confident in his teaching that he didn't need those awards. He already knew he was good because his students told him that constantly."

Hogg's spirited lectures and informal advising were known and appreciated by many students. One look at the more than 20 condolence messages at the Department of Chemistry's special "Hogg Memories" Web page reveals stories, praises and tributes from Hogg's colleagues, current students and former students, some of whom were students at A&M more than a decade ago.

"He was the chemistry department for a lot of people," Regan said. "I feel sad that all these new students coming in to A&M will never know him. I feel like the chemistry department lost a great man."

"His legacy will be his dedication to his students and his passion for teaching," Rosnyk said. "In a nutshell, that's it. His commitment to teaching and advising was legendary."

Teaching awards bestowed upon John Hogg

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