Frances Burns Hogan, 86, died April 6, 2009 at her home in Chapel Hill.
Mrs. Hogan grew up in Sumter, SC. She was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Alwin C. Burns, Sr. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Alwin C. Burns, Jr. and Richard B. Burns.
Mrs. Hogan received her undergraduate degree from Winthrop University. Upon graduation, she taught in Winthrop’s Physical Education Department. She was given a scholarship to complete her graduate work at the University of Iowa. While obtaining her Masters Degree, she was teaching full time for the University of Iowa.
Frances came to Chapel Hill in 1946 as an instructor in the Physical Education Department. She was employed by UNC-CH for thirty-eight years. During that time, she wore many different hats and was bestowed honors and awards for her contributions.
She taught and ran the women’s intramural program, acted as faculty advisor to the Women’s Athletic Association and coached the women’s tennis team for twenty-three years. Frances was an outstanding tennis player and coach who developed the UNC Women’s Tennis Team into a nationally recognized varsity tennis program. It was not long before her team competed for NCAA National Championships.
In 1973, Mrs. Hogan was appointed the first Director of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics at UNC-CH. This title later changed to Associate Athletic Program when the women’s athletic program went under the NCAA.
Her many honors and recognitions included N.C. Tennis Hall of Fame, recipient of the N.C. Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Winthrop University Athletics Hall of Fame, Sumter Sports Hall of Fame and Honorary Order of the Valkyries. Her personal tennis talents remained high, as she won the N.C. Tennis Championship in women’s singles and mixed doubles during that period.
Mrs. Hogan was a member of University United Methodist Church. She was married to George Pickard Hogan for over 59 years. Along with her husband, she is survived by her children, Alwin B. Hogan and wife, Vickie, of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Frances B. Hogan of Rocky Mount, NC.; grandchildren George W. Harris, Roger E. Harris, Jr., and Kelly Frances Hogan; her sister-in-law, Emmie Reland Burns; and nephews Richard, Alwin, Claude and Charlie.
She will be greatly missed by her family and all those who knew and loved her. Her life was truly an inspiration to her children, an example of integrity and loyalty unsurpassed. Her sense of humor and wonderful wit were a joy.
Women’s athletics has lost a person completely devoted to the betterment of the games played and the women that played them.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 9th at the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery by the Rev. Carl King. The family will receive friends at the home following the service.
Arrangements by Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill, 120 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (919) 942-3861.
I am sorry for your loss. I graduated from UNC in ’69 with a major in Physical Education. Mrs. Hogan was a real inspiration to us. Her dry wit and sterness brought out the best in us. Three of us keep in contact. Mary Drogos Marchman was at the funeral. I live in Garden City. I could not come because of a doctor appt. I want you to know how much we loved her and Mrs. Branch. The three of us took the two of them out to lunch last fall. She was as delightful as ever. I am so thankful we had that time with both of them.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Spence Smith