Meritorious Award Winner

MERITORIOUS

Award Winner: Jim Bogart

Although born in Ottumwa, Iowa Jim Bogart has spent the vast majority of his life in Michigan; growing up in the Twin Cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph and settling for the past 50 years in Rockford. He is a graduate of St. Joseph High School and holds BS and MS degrees in Turfgrass Management from MSU, where he studied under the late Dr. Jim Beard. While in graduate school he was awarded a onehalf time assistantship in Turfgrass Extension; working with home owners and turf managers across the state.

Jim Bogart got his introduction to turf management, while working for the late George Graber at Blossom Trails GC in Benton Harbor. Following his time at MSU he worked for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, serving as Assistant Supervisor of Golf and Playfields for the city. It was there he was approached by Scott’s ProTurf with an offer to return to Michigan as a Technical Representative for the company. Thus began a 40 year career of serving the turf managers of Michigan, covering every corner of the state except Metropolitan Detroit. During that time he also served on numerous association boards, including being President of MTF for two years.

Today Jim and his wife, Joan, continue to live in Rockford where they have been very involved with local organizations. They enjoy traveling and spending time in Arizona each winter. Jim and wife, Joan, enjoying fall color in the UP.

Jim at the throttle of Coopersville & Marne Railway locomotive 7014.