Northern Territory News
 

Former News boss dies, 63

NIGEL ADLAM
18Jun08

TOUGH: John Hogan, former managing editor of the Northern Territory News, resurrected the newspaper after Cyclone Tracy

A MAN who once dominated the Territory social and political scene has died in hospital after a long illness.

John Hogan, managing editor of the Northern Territory News and Centralian Advocate for 12 years, spent his last days in a Brisbane hospital. He was 63.

Life-long friend Terry Butts said: "He died without a cent to his name. It was a sad end, but he had lived life to the full.

"He was a tough man and, in his day, a man of enormous influence.''

Mr Hogan was born in Invercargill, NZ. After a cadetship on a small Kiwi newspaper, he moved to Australia and worked in Gladstone.

He was brought to Darwin by News Ltd to rebuild the Northern Territory News operation after Cyclone Tracy.

"He resurrected the newspaper,'' Mr Butts said.

The biggest challenge of Mr Hogan's career in Darwin was building the newspaper's present headquarters in McMinn St.

Mr Hogan was a "political animal'' and exercised a huge influence on CLP governments.

"It was often said that he was more powerful than the government,'' Mr Butts said.

Mr Hogan was also a passionate follower of sport, particularly rugby union. He was head of the Territory's rugby association and brought several Wallabies to Darwin to play.

Mr Hogan left Darwin for the Townsville Bulletin in 1988 and organised the building of the newspaper's new press hall. The building is still known colloquially as Hogan Hall.

He left the Bulletin in 1994 and started a mixed farm.

But Mr Butts said: "The property didn't do well -- John was no farmer.''

Mr Hogan spent his final years in retirement in Queensland.

His funeral will be held in Brisbane tomorrow.