George E. Logan

George Logan (Loesing) , 76, of Tecumseh went to his heavenly rest on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at his residence after a four and a half year battle with cancer. George is survived by his wife, Jessie; by daughter, Janet Doud and fiancé David Rosebrough of Topeka; step-children, Brent (Angie) Boles of Tecumseh and Brenda (Mark) Fenner of Flower Mound, TX; six grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and by one son, Richard Loesing.

Logan was born in Boonville, Missouri and raised on a farm there. He was active in 4-H and FFA during his school years, serving both organizations as Secretary, Vice-President and President. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1957 and joined the Radio and Television Service of the US Department of Agriculture as an information specialist. His work there included producing duties for the "American Farmer" radio program on the ABC radio network as well as appearances on NBC's "National Farm and Home Hour" and at that time he became known as George Logan and later legally changed his last name. From 1960 to 1965, Logan was Farm Service Director for WLW Radio and Television in Cincinnati, Ohio. His activities there included daily broadcasts from the station's 600 acre working dairy operation, "Everybody's Farm", as well a daily morning TV program and appearances on "Midwestern Hayride", a weekly country music show carried on a network of four Ohio and Indiana TV stations. He joined Stauffer in 1965 as Farm Director for the WIBW stations. George Logan retired from Stuaffer Communications at the end of 1993 after serving as General Manager of WIBW-TV (Topeka) for fifteen years. During his tenure of nearly thirty years with SCI, Logan also held posts of General Manager at KGNC AM/FM in Amarillo, Texas, Farm Director for WIBW-TV-AM-FM and the National Sales Manager for WIBW AM/FM in Topeka.

During his broadcasting career, Logan was active in a number of local, state, and national organizations. He served the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in several offices, including President in 1972. In 1973, he became the Executive Secretary of the Association, a position he held for 16 years. He was elected to membership on the CBS Television Network Affiliates Board as well as the Arbitron TV Advisory Council. He was President of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters and a co-founder and President of Crime Stoppers of Topeka, Inc. in addition to serving on numerous boards and committees, such as the Citizen's Advisory Council for Topeka State Hospital, the board of Boy's and Girl's Club of Topeka, the Voluntary Action Council and as a Vice-President of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce. He was also a lifetime member of the downtown Topeka Rotary Club. During his final year with SCI, Logan served as Chairman of the Board of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in which office he served for 6 years.

Logan's broadcast management and farm broadcasting careers have brought him numerous honors including the Meritorious Service Award from the NAFB, the DeKalb Oscars in Agriculture, the Ciba-Geigy Farm Broadcaster of the Year and the Elanco Town Crier award. He has received the Honorary American Farmer degree from FFA as well Honorary State Farmer degrees in both Ohio and Kansas. He was granted an Honorary Commission in the Ohio Highway Patrol for his work in highway safety. In November 1995, he was inducted into the Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Following retirement, George assisted his wife, Jessie, with the record keeping and communications with her Mary Kay Cosmetics business as well as managing the couple's investments, which included an interest in a local radio station. He also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Mass Communications department at Washburn University, teaching a course in Broadcast Management.

George will always be remembered by his family and countless friends as a person who had a strong faith in God, who loved his time spent fishing and for the joy that music and technology brought to his life. Remembered fondly will be the many gatherings at which George would be found strumming his guitar and leading the group in joyous singing.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at the Topeka Bible Church, 1101 SW Mulvane St., Topeka. Officiating will be Pastor Bruce Eberline, of Grace Bible Church of which George was a member. The family will receive friends immediately following the celebration and a luncheon will also be available in the Fellowship Hall. Memorial contributions have been designated to The Life Raft Group for Cancer Research, 155 Route 46 West, Suite 202, Wayne, NJ 07470.