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Deputy City Manager James R. Hogan to retire ending 35-year municipal career
By Kim Nguyen, knguyen@acnpapers.com
After 35 years of serving in various capacities in different city departments, Deputy City Manager James R. “Rod” Hogan has decided to step down from his post and go into retirement.
“It sure doesn’t seem like 35 years to me,” he said. “I’ve always been surrounded by a good team of people that understood and were working toward the same goal.”
Hogan said his biggest achievement in his 35 years with the city was continually emphasizing the high service levels offered to the Plano community.
Services that helped him establish his family in Plano.
Hogan and his wife raised a son and daughter in Plano and hope their children express an interest in settling in Plano.
Hogan first began his career in municipal government with the city’s parks and recreation department in 1975. He was fresh out of college and was looking for a place to settle down.
“There were three job prospects that I was interviewing for, one at Abilene Christian College, one at Baylor Univer-sity and the third for the city of Plano,” he said. “Plano was the first one that called me back, so I took it, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
At the time, the parks and recreation department was much smaller than it is now.
“We had about eight employees and 300 acres of land to maintain,” he said. “I spent the next eight years with the department maintaining buildings and facilities, mowing park land and things like that.”
As a parks foreman, Hogan served in the parks and recreation department until 1983, when then-City Manager David Griffin offered him a position as street/traffic and solid waste manager in the public works department.
Hogan was eventually named the director of public works in 1984, and in this capacity he oversaw the budgeting and daily operations of utility operations, public works operations, solid waste and sustainability operations, and equipment services operations.
“Rod’s leadership and management capabilities, coupled with his vision and innovation, helped our city’s infrastructure keep stride with our phenomenal years of growth in the 1980s and beyond,” said City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck. “Under his leadership Plano implemented a nationally-recognized solid waste service plan that included automated refuse and recycling collection, as well as establishment of a regional municipal compost site and aggressive landfill diversion through recycling and now, Live Green, programming.”
Hogan was appointed to the City Manager’s office in 1999, where he administers and coordinates the activities of parks and recreation, the Plano Centre/-Convention and Visitors Bureau, sustainability/environmental waste services and public works/engineering.
As deputy city manager, Hogan represents the city through a number of professional organizations including the International City Manager Association, Texas Public Works Association, National Recreation and Parks Association, Texas Municipal League and American Water Works Association, among others. Hogan recently gained recognition as a 2009 International City/County Management Association honoree for his provision of public service and professional management at the local level.
“He capably oversaw the expansion of our streets, water, sewer and drainage infrastructures and provided oversight and development in the implementation of award-winning initiatives, such as alternative fuel fleet conversion and the nationally-recognized Keep Plano Beautiful Commission environmental initiatives,” Mue-hlenbeck said. “Since being appointed Deputy Director in February 1999 he has continued to dedicate his efforts to our municipal organization and the well-being of our Plano citizens.”
Looking back, Hogan said he does not have any regrets about what he’s done over the last 35 years with the city.
“Like any other job, there have been challenges and opportunities to grow,” he said. “My job is lots of work but lots of fun. I truly love my job and have been very blessed to have stayed here for so long.”
As Plano continues to mature, Hogan said he hopes that those who step up and take over his responsibilities will remember the value of maintaining the high-quality park land throughout the city.
“Fifty years from now, open land will be very, very valuable,” he said. “With a projected two million people in Collin County by 2020, Plano will stay at the top of the game by having provided good parks and facilities to the community. The strong parks and rec program makes Plano unique and will always keep it unique.”
As far as unfinished business goes, Hogan said he doesn’t have any and is confident to leave his positions in the capable hands of the rest of the city staff.
“Lots have people have come and gone, not just me,” he said. “We’re very lucky to have a new world classs of folks to take us to the new level. We have some very hard years ahead of us and I know the rest of the staff will strive for the best and keep their eyes on the prize because mediocrity is a very slippery slope.”
Hogan said upon retirement, he plans to focus on regaining his stamina and strength after a prolonged battle with various health issues. He also hopes to get back into his hobbies, including fishing, golfing and woodworking.
But his service to the city won’t stop with his retirement in January. As a member of the Plano Sunrise Rotary, Hogan said he is looking forward to working in projects to benefit various charities in the community.
Hogan’s position will remain unfilled pending adoption of the city’s 2010-2011 budget.
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