MICKEY BOGART
Most of you know Mickey as a hard working former Manhattan High School teacher, and one who has accepted just about every challenge presented to her to support our church. Mickey sings in the choir, has chaired the Outreach Committee, served on the current Local and Global Outreach Team, has assisted with Vacation Bible School, serves on the Pastoral Relations Committee, has been a Deacon, and Elder, has served as Chair of the Elders, and is currently the Vice Chair of the Coordinating Council. She is also the driving force in a weekly Bible Study for some women in our church. (Despite any rumors you may have heard, she has not applied for the custodial position.) She has been a member of First Christian since 1967. However, she started attending our church when she was a student at Kansas State in the 1961-62. Mickey also attended Fort Hays State where she earned a Bachelors degree in History before returning to KSU to get a Masters in History. Later she also received a Reading Specialist degree from KSU.
Mickey came to Manhattan to fill the position of 7th Grade Social Studies teacher at the Manhattan Middle School. The Social Studies position had been vacated by a man named Jim Bogart who had been deployed to Korea to fulfill a military obligation. You may ask, “Did Mickey give the position back to Jim when he returned the following year?” The answer is “noooo”, she married him instead, and let him apply for another position! Jim, some of you may remember, moved on to a stellar career as a media specialist for the Middle School, District 383, and finally to Manhattan High School where in retired in 2000. Jim died in 2004 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Mickey is certainly not the only one who misses Jim.
In 1976 Mickey also moved to Manhattan High School to become head of the History Department and remained there until her retirement in 1999. Many of you had students in her classes at Manhattan High School and know what a skilled teacher she is. Among her achievements are: receiving the Kansas Master Teacher Award (state recognition awarded by Emporia State University); Milken National Educator Award; exchange teacher to Russia; and guest presenter on American Democracy at both Oxford, England and Estonia (where is that?!) Mickey is now a part –time employee of KSU, teaching and supervising students who want to become teachers. What person is better suited for this position?
Mickey has three children: Greg in Bonner Springs, Jenny in Wichita, and Tim who, with his wife and three children, is on his way to a second long-term mission in South Africa. All three of her children grew up and were influenced by our church. These three children have also produced eight grandchildren for Mickey. Each one of the grandchildren is individually precocious. Ask Mickey how proud she is of them.
Here are several things you may not know about Mickey: She was raised in Abilene, Kansas, attended the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and was a classmate of Marlin Fitzwater, former press secretary for President George Herbert Walker Bush.
When asked what she likes most about First Christian Church, she says “the music ministry and the people. People who come to our church feel welcome and there is opportunity for ‘real study’ here”. We agree, Mickey, and we all are very grateful for all you do, and for all your hard work to make our church a welcome place for all.