Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Hogan, William

Teacher; born Co Kerry, 8 April 1895; died Sydney, 30 May 1964, aged 69.

William Hogan received his secondary education from the Cistercian monks at Roscrea, and amongst other things was reputed to have played on the wing for the first XV. He entered the Society at Tullamore, 7 September 1912, and then went to Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, for his juniorate. Philosophy was studied at Jersey in the Channel Islands, 1916-17, and on his return to Ireland he went to teach at Belvedere College, Dublin, 1919-21.

These were troubled times in Ireland, when feelings were strong and the atmosphere was tense. He had many personal friends amongst the organisers of the 1916 rebellion and afterwards. Superiors may have thought he was becoming too deeply involved in matters politic, for he was transferred to Mungret, to complete his magisterium, 1921-23. Theology was studied at Milltown Park, Dublin, 1923-27, where he acquired a reputation as a moral theologian amongst his contemporaries. He was ordained on 31 July 1926, and tertianship followed at St Beuno's, Wales.

Hogan sailed for Australia in 1928, arriving in Sydney in September. Then began his long association with St Aloysius College, Milson's Point. Except for three years spent as minister at Xavier College, Kew, 1937-39, which he humourously referred to as 'the years of captivity', the rest of his life in Australia was spent in the service of St Aloysius' College.

Hogan belonged to the college, and spent over 32 years on the staff, a respected teacher and some time minister and bursar. He organised the transport passes for the students. He loved mathematical calculations, and was a good mathematics teacher. He had a passion for rulers and measuring tapes, while his judgment on moral cases was second to none. He could hold a religion class of young boys with the clarity and cogency of his arguments. He was always kind and encouraging to his students.

He was a shy, retiring man with a sparkling sense of humour. His usually stern countenance could relax with an inimitable and infectious grin - the preface of some priceless remark. He was appointed sports master in 1929, and had many stories to tell of that eventful year - how the boys were almost decapitated by an unusually strong finishing tape - how he solved the problem of whether to play back or forward on a wet wicket.

As a young man he taught Leaving Certificate modern history, and his students recalled the sidelights and biographical notes not to be found in text books. He was an avid reader with sound retentive powers. He was a meticulous minister, his books always carefully up-to-date, and the keys hung in well-labelled order. Everything was done with great precision.

He had a devotion to the Holy Souls, and kept a record of the date of the death of each Jesuit that he knew and each Old Boy that he had taught, so that he could pray for each on his anniversary. He was remarkable for his personal and idiosyncratic practice of poverty. Towards the end he suffered a mild cerebral spasm, and later a stroke from which he died. He was buried from the college he had served so well.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)