http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 28 August 2010 Obituary of James H. Coogan _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "Gettysburg Times" [PA], 13 APR 1962, PAGE 14): INFORMATION OFFICER AT PSU EXPIRES CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) - James H. Coogan, 51, director of public information at Pennsylvania State University since 1958, collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack just as he was finishing an address before an alumni group. The former sports information director was within a few minutes of completing his address before the Penn State Alumni Club of Southern New Jersey in the Cherry Hill Inn when he suddenly slumped to the floor. He was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden where he was pronounced dead. Ridge Riley, executive secretary of the Penn State Alumni Association, said that he and Coogan has driven to Cherry Hill, near Philadelphia, from their homes in State College, Pa., earlier in the afternoon. Riley said Coogan gave no indication of illness during the 100 mile trip or anytime thereafter until he suddenly slumped over. WIDOW SURVIVES "He seemed perfectly relaxed," said Riley. "He gave no evidence during his talk that he was ill. He was within two or three minutes of finishing when he slumped over." Riley said Coogan was administered the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Coogan, a native of Shenandoah, graduated from Penn State in 1930 and later worked as a reporter for the Shenandoah Herald and the Berwick Enterprise. He returned to Penn State in 1942, working in the Information Division of Continuing Education Services. _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "Pittsburgh Press" [PA], 13 APR 1962, PAGE 14): JAMES COOGAN DIES; PENN STATE PUBLICIST Heart Attach Fatal to Sports Authority After New Jersey Speaking Engagement PRESS STATE WIRE UNIVERSITY PARK, April 13 - James Coogan, a man who probably knew more about Penn State sports and atheletes than the coaches themselves, is dead. He had spoken at a meeting of the Southern New Jersey Penn State Alumni Club at Haddonfield, N.J., last night when he was stricken by a heart attack. He died in an ambulance en route to the hospital. He had suffered a mild heart attack two years ago. His death at 53 came as a shock to hundreds of sportswriters and newsmen around Pennsylvania who had come to regard him as a man who could produce needed statistics, a colorful anecdote, or needed detail upon request. Born in Shenandoah, Pa., James H. Coogan, had studied journalism at Penn State and upon graduation in 1930 became a sportswriter for the Berwick, Pa., Enterprise. He became managing editor of the paper and later returned to his home town where he became advertising manager of the Shenandoah Evening Herald. He returned to Penn State in 1942 as sports publicity director, a post he held until 1958 when he was named information director for the entire school. Mr. Coogan was active in the American College Public Relations Assn. and was the first president of the Middle Atlantic Division of the association and, in 1952, was made an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors. In 1955, Mr. Coogan was cited by the association for "exemplary work" as an assistant director of public information. During the past two years, his department at the university had been cited seven times for exceptional achievement and work by the American College Public Relations Assn. He is survived by his widow, Margaret, who was at their home on Puddingtown Road, State College, when he died. He had left there yesterday in company with Ridge Riley, Penn State Alumni secretary, to speak in New Jersey. _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "New York Times" [NY], 14 APR 1962, PAGE 25): JAMES COOGAN, 53, AIDE OF PENN STATE UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., April 13 - James Coogan, a former newspaper and public information director at Pennsylvania State University since 1958, died last night, apparently of a heart attack in Haddonfield, N.J. He was 53 years old and lived in State College. Mr. Coogan died while speaking at a dinner of the Penn State Club of Southern New Jersey in the Cherry Hill Inn. After his graduation from Penn State in 1930, Mr. Coogan worked for The Berwick Enterprise and The Shenandoah Evening Herald. He joined the university as director of sports publicity in 1942. For many years Mr. Coogan also served as assistant director of the Department of Public Information before being named as director in 1958. Long active in the American College Public Relations Association, Mr. Coogan was the first president of the group's sport division and later was president of its Middle Atlantic district. He was also an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors. He leaves his wife, Margaret. _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "State College Daily Collegian" [PA], 14 APR 1962): J. H. COOGAN DIES IN NJ AFTER ADDRESSING ALUMNI James H. Coogan, 53, director of public information for the last four years, and a former editor of The Daily Collegian, died in Haddonfield, N.J., Thursday night. COOGAN had been a member of the University staff for 20 years. He had gone to Haddonfield Thursday with Ridge Riley, executive director of the Alumni Association, where he addressed a meeting of the Alumni Club of Southern New Jersey. HE WAS STRICKEN after his talk and died en route to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, N.J. County Coroner Howard W. Creran said the cause of death was a heart attack and high blood pressure. Born on June 24, 1908, in Shanandoah [sic], Coogan was graduated from the University in 1930 with a bachelor of arts degree in arts and letters. As an undergraduate, he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi social fraternity, Lion's Paw, senior men's honorary society, and Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalism society. Coogan joined the editorial staff of the Berwick Enterprise upon graduation in 1930 and served as reporter, sports editor and managing editor. In 1937 he joined the staff of the Shenandoah Evening Herald. He was named to the University's staff in 1942. [photo; caption: JAMES H. COOGAN] He became sports publicity director in 1943 after having served a year in the information section of the Division of Continuing Education. He continued as sports publicity director and assistant director of public information until July, 1958. AT THAT TIME he became the director of public information when Louis H. Bell resigned on orders of his physician. Bell, executive director and founder of the Pennsylvania State University Press, died on Oct. 16, 1958 of a heart attack. Coogan, a former president of the Lion's Paw alumni association, was also a member of the Board of Directors of Collegian, Inc., publishers of The Daily Collegian. Coogan is survived by his wife, Margaret Welsh Coogan. http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu _______________________________________________________________________