W.O.W.(Words of Wisdom) #2 Roy

Family History

I asked my mom if Lloyd was her favorite. She promptly replied no and then reminded me that Hogans were always expected to do well. Arlene, Ivy, Frank, Sadie and Monica and Guy were all top echelon students and the same was expected of all of us.

She said to me that she wanted to ensure that Lloyd could go higher and she went to work as a maid to assist her enrolling him in the top high school in the Republic of Panama ( Pan- American Institute). He then set a typing record of 131 words per miniute, which is a record to this day. Lloyd was also the co-founder of the ‘Negro Youth Congress organization which was counseled by my father in law ,Ashton Parchment. Its mission was to create a vehicle to address the many injustices in Panamanian society and provide a formulation of policies for the enhancement of economic opportunities and educational advancement for the youth of Panama.He became an icon to the young people of his time. He was the template, leaving to attend the University of Chicago in September 1943.Several young people began to leave for the US after that.

Mama Hogan also mentioned that Arlene was a top mistress and that Ivy and Monica were also very bright and worked at the Naval Supply Depot (PX).

Sadie went to the Girls Lyceum in Panama and studied English, Spanish, French and German.

Ramon was selected to be the Valedictorian of his class but bowed out due to shyness and went on to attend the Professional school in Panama .

From quite early on Guy was an avid reader, with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and intellectual challenges, irrespective of the source. He devoured Zane Grey westerns, and Ellery Queen mysteries, along with Perry Mason cases, and snippets from Shakespeare, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, and Newton. And while he routinely finished each school year at the head of his class, he did not formulate a firm plan for going to college. After all, many bright young people (and there were many) from his community had never gone beyond high school, and the local opportunities for higher education were somewhat limited. It was only after high school, when he was prodded by his brother, Lloyd, who had gone on to the University of Chicago, and was now teaching economics at Talladega College, that he applied for and received a scholarship to attend Talladega.

I was in the upper third of my class and was selected to attend the Novarak School.In 1951 I was one of the first non us citizens inducted into the US Army from Panama. Harry Truman made this possible under HR 15 in July 1951. My years in LaBoca are priceless and I often reminisce and kept my best friends with whom I grew up. Some have passed on and the rest are here in the U.S.

Roy