"When Gene Vance walked into my office a number of years ago and asked for money to remove that wonderful turf at Memorial Stadium, I began to focus on just what I owed the University of Illinois for my financial success. Since the funds available for gifts came from my insurance activities, I felt the College of Commerce should benefit from my good fortune. And, an endowed chair in insurance seemed most appropriate. I know first-hand what an influential role a professor can play in a student's life. Perhaps I was spurred by the memory of Professor Frank G. Dickinson (economics department, 1930-47, taught courses in labor and insurance) who first outlined for me what a career in insurance could achieve."

In 1985, John and Eleanor Brogan set up a remainder trust to create the John C. Brogan Professorship in Insurance. This past year they committed another million dollars to establish the university's first endowed chair in insurance. When fully funded the chair will have an endowment of $3 million. In addition, the Brogans have agreed to make annual gifts to the College of Commerce so the professorship can be funded during their lifetimes. A search committee to fill this position has already been established by the Department of Finance. They hope to make an appointment by the end of this academic year.

John Brogan and his daughters, Tracy Brogan-Black and Linda Fair, visited campus in early September. The purpose was twofold, to show Tracy and Linda the campus their father loves, but also so that they could all be present at a dinner honoring John Brogan for the generous gifts he made to his alma mater during a lifetime of giving. The specific occasion was to highlight the commitment of an additional gift of $1 million. The dinner was hosted by Chancellor Michael Aiken and attended by the people Brogan has worked with in the College of Commerce and the campus and university development offices.

Throughout the years, John Brogan has maintained close ties with the university. In the spring of 1991 he returned to campus, as an Emerson Cammack Lecturer, to talk to students in Finance 260, Principles of Insurance, taught by Steve D'Arcy. His visit coincided with what Professor D'Arcy called "the greatest insurance disaster in history, the potential bankruptcy of Lloyd's of London." As a name at Lloyd's Brogan was able to and did provide an insider's view of the debacle as it was unfolding. That was a class the students never forgot.

Photo by Thompson-McClellan

John Brogan with daughters, Linda Fair and Tracy Brogan-Black, on campus in September.

When John Brogan first came to the University of Illinois he thought he would like to be a doctor. This preference faded quickly, and he enrolled in a course in accounting and two insurance courses, taught by Professor Dickinson. In 1936 he earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois. After a year in the U.S. Army, he went to work for the Zurich Insurance Co. But in 1941, with the United States at war, he returned to active duty and fought in campaigns in North Africa and Italy. Brogan remained in the U.S. Army Reserves and retired with the rank of Brigadier General. Among his military decorations are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Croix de Guerre.

In 1946 Brogan returned to civilian life and the Zurich Insurance Company, remaining there for three years before joining the insurance brokerage firm of Rollins Burdick Hunter Co. In 1956 he and an associate resigned from Rollins to purchase the insurance agency known as Youngberg-Carlson Co. In 1969 they sold Youngberg-Carlson to Swift & Co., the owner of three other insurance agencies and the Globe Life Insurance Co. A small group, including Brogan, purchased all the agencies from Swift & Co, in 1977, which they then sold to Ryan Insurance Group in April 1978. While in the Ryan Insurance Group he was chairman for the insurance brokerage group, which included Youngberg-Carlson Co., Scarborough and Company, A. Yarchin & Co., and American Benefit Corp. He retired in 1985.

During his years in insurance Brogan made major contributions to the aviation insurance market. Through his work with Lloyd's he took a great interest in aviation risks and expanded his involvement from there. In the industry he was recognized for his work ethic, his knowledge of particular areas of insurance, and his ability to work well with others. He is respected by his peers and extremely successful in his field.

Brogan at a reception at the college.

Brogan has also served on several boards of directors, including the Ryan Insurance Group (now part of Aon), GSI ( a subsidiary of Esmark), Ford City Bank, Mercantile National Bank, Globe Life Insurance Co. (now part of Aon), Chicago Helicopter Ariways, Inc., and the University of Illinois Foundation and the Presidents Council. Since retiring he has rechanneled a great deal of his industry and passion to playing golf.