Security Industry Mourns the Loss of Cecil Hogan, a Past ESA President
Hogan is credited as being instrumental to re-establishing a relationship between SIA, CSAA (now TMA) and ESA during his presidency.
A montage of pictures with Cecil Hogan and his family. Among loved ones he leaves behind: wife of almost 53 years, Peggy, and their four children, Terri, Christina, Joseph and Alia. (ESA)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Cecil Hogan, founder and president of Security Consultants, based here, passed away on April 24. He was 73.
Hogan served as president of the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), later renamed the Electronic Security Association (ESA), from 2002-2004. He served 13 years on the ESA Executive Committee and in 2004 he was awarded the association’s most prestigious award, the ESA Morris F. Weinstock Award, which recognized his lifetime of service to the electronic security and life-safety industry.
During his ESA presidency, Hogan — with the help of then-Security Industry Association (SIA) President Allen Fritz and then-Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) President Mel Mahler — worked to re-establish a relationship between the three associations.
Because of these efforts, CSAA (now The Monitoring Association, TMA) ESA and SIA enjoy an affiliation that is beneficial not only to all three organizations, but the industry at large, according to an ESA announcement.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Cecil,” says Merlin Guilbeau, executive director and CEO, ESA. “As a businessman, owning and operating a security company for almost 40 years, he leaves a legacy of kindness and generosity that the industry will greatly miss — but should also learn from and emulate.”
An example of Hogan’s heart, he kept a dying man on his payroll for more than a year so the employee’s family would be taken care of and not go without, the announcement notes.
John Knox, past ESA president and owner of Knox Integrated Systems, remembers meeting Cecil for the first time at an industry trade show in Atlanta in the late 1980s.
“I can say if you ever had a chance to speak with Cecil, it is highly unlikely you would forget him,” Knox recalls. “He was one of the first people to encourage me to get involved in the Tennessee alarm association at a time when I did not understand the value.”
For more than 25 years, Knox witnessed Hogan donate countless hours to our industry.
“At times, I know he spent more time working with ESA and TNESA than he did his own company,” Knox says. “He donated his time unselfishly and never expected anything in return.”
Past ESA President Dom D’Ascoli also remembers the long hours Hogan dedicated to the association and industry.
“The untold hours he has poured into the association and his expertise in guiding major decisions that have impacted the security industry have helped everyone in business today,” D’Ascoli says.
For information about Hogan’s funeral, where to send flowers as well as an opportunity to leave a message on his virtual memory wall, visit Hernando Funeral Home.
“Our industry has lost a great husband, father, mentor and friend,” Knox notes.
Hogan leaves behind his wife of almost 53 years, Peggy; their four children (Terri, Christina, Joseph and Alia); eight grandchildren; and his siblings, Mary Hopper and James Hogan.
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