I'm not a religious person though I believe there is a reason we all somehow found our way on to this earth.
I also believe that there is a distinct reason for all of us to be here.
Yes some get it - some don't - and there are various reasons, both good and bad, for where each of us end up.
This past week we lost an 'over achiever' on earth and I say that with the deepest respect as we say goodbye to Bruce Hogle in Edmonton. (Sadly wife Gail just 3 weeks earlier)
Bruce filled his life 'big time' helping other people and I can safely say I've never seen a man with a smile on his face each and every time we connected, be it in the hallways at CFRN Television, at the Edmonton Broadcasters Club, or attending 'some' meeting connected to the community - and for about 30 years in my world.
I was fortunate to have called Bruce a 'friend' very early in my time in media.
He knew my Dad, which was a huge bonus. www.jerryforbescentre.ca
After losing my Dad in 1981, at a very young age, Bruce literally stepped in to my world and unknowingly or not became a huge influence on me.
As we worked across the hallways he was often in my office often, or we'd bump in to each other in the cafeteria.
If I needed him...he was there...and by that I want to explain something that people may not know.
Management is hard...very hard...but the good ones make it look easy. The pressure is immense running somebody else's business...often you were the conveyance to the staff - inspiring them, where possible, but also having to do things that were demanded by ownership that you may not entirely endorse...like laying people off...people you may have known for a very long time - you know their spouses - their kids - you may have helped them through a dilemma or you may have had to call them in to give them 'hell' for something they've done (or not done) that affected the business,
On 'those days' mentorship is everything and again Bruce was 'there' for me.
He was so much like my Father...never saying "well here's the way I'd do it...." but more of a "well if you do Door #1 - Door #2 - or Door #3 here's what the result 'may' be..." so...over to you.
Just having the other guys ears was enough to help you take a big breath - thank him/her - and move on to the difficult task ahead.
In Community work nobody - and I will repeat - N O B O D Y did more for the City of Edmonton than Bruce Hogle did...through many many different avenues.
A few I can remember include when each and every media outlet was solo (before consolidation) so each and every property in radio, tv, or radio had a local manager of (most often) born and raised IN Edmonton so we 'got it.'
The City was going through a terrible time (when hasn't it?) and Bruce organized a meeting somewhere in the downtown core and every...EVERY...media manager was there.
At the meeting he plunked the gavel down and very thoroughly told us that we need to get to our various properties and tell our people to STOP doing so much negative news reporting and to start looking for those positive things that make Edmonton great.
No it wasn't manipulating the news.
No he wasn't wrong because the trend seemed to be to look for bad things to report about - or talk about on air - and that we'd stopped looking for these gems that made Edmonton great.
Point taken. Big time.
The one beautiful thing I noted in the wonderful Cam Tait article was the 'personal' touch.
Bruce never started with business in our chats. Bruce never ended our chats with business either,
It was about our families.
He was so proud of Bill, Steve, and Randy. And I could listen to him talk for hours about their various escapades. I've only met Bill once or twice - I adore Steve - and I'm still in awe of Randy and what he has accomplished in life.
You don't have the success that the Hogle family has without having dynamic parents sharing the responsibilities of raising the kids, and also 'bringing home the bread' to make sure they live rich and fruitful lives.
As I said in my opening statement I'm not a religious person - but having Gail and Bruce leave the earth within 3 weeks of each other surely sends a message to us.
I don't think I need to explain further...other than they both were loved, respected, and adored!
Bless you Hogle folks for sharing two of the kindest people on the face of the earth with the rest of us.
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Here is my eulogy from the Bruce and Gail funeral...short version from above.
My name is Marty Forbes…my real name is Martin Forbes but only my Dad and Mom called me that when I was in trouble.
A precious few people call me Mart - and I’m deeply honoured when they do.
Bruce Hogle called me Mart.
I’ve known Bruce and Gail for around thirty years...Steve for almost the same
We met as I ran the radio stations across from CFRN…so bumping into Bruce was a common occasion…but even more so he was like a third father to me.
He would have held second designation if it wasn’t for my stepfather.
Because both Bruce and Dad were highly successful in broadcasting my relationship with Bruce was truly enhanced.
We ‘connected.’
In fact Bruce often used the same system that my Dad used with me.
Neither would solve my problems but… they would often point out a few possible solutions from their sage experience.
Kinda like...Door #1...Door #2 or Door #3 so that I had a different view from about 30,000 feet.
I believe that great managers make the gig look easy but I can assure you upper management often isn’t.
On those horrible days when you are the messenger that has to lay somebody off,
or do something you disagree with; to show compassion…and help those people cope...somehow...
Bruce often had ‘the right words.’
He was my go to guy….but before we ever got to the tough part of the chat there was always the mandatory family update….
Mart…how’s Kim and the Girls. Not just once in awhile...every...single...time!
With many people that’s a throw away line and they don’t even really listen or respond.
Not Bruce…when my daughter was struggling with Graves Disease Bruce was there for me listening, responding, and showing his sincere care.
Again...every...single...time!
Then I’d hear about the Hogle family and how proud of each of you that he was…what Gail was up to, and if you know each or any Hogle family member well you’ll know how lovingly similar they are in how they treat other people.
Having Gail and Bruce as parents set an amazing standard for Bill, Randy and Steve and they carry that name proudly and I’m sure have passed it down to their children and will to their grandchildren.
And yes behind every good man is a powerful woman...and mother...and at social functions Gail would be right beside Bruce…charming everybody that wandered by to say hello.
They've been married for almost as long as I’ve been on this earth…and seeing them together was like when I used to see the late great Senator Tommy Banks with his wife Ida; it was like watching two teenagers in love…the power couple of media and the community flirting.
Bruce was given many prestigious awards...high profile designations...but behind our wall he used to often wonder what all the fuss was...cuz it was nice but not something he ever sought out.
From what I understand too is that Bruce shined at the back end of his time here as The unofficial Mayor of Canterbury…walking around every day talking to all the other residents….that was so Bruce.
Brighten up somebody else’s day was his mandate. And with Gail, again, nearby.
I’ve left his business success to this point in my chat because that’s how Bruce operated.
People first. Business second.
Watching him wander the station hallways…hi to the ladies in the cafeteria….stopping to talk to virtually everybody who made eye contact…calling each and every one of them ‘by name’…well it’s a skill and a talent that touched everybody.
If it was somebody new he'd often lean over and say 'Mart...who's that and what do they do here?'
Next time he'd see them...yup...he’d remembered their name and made them feel like a million dollars simply for recognizing them.
Bruce knew no status. He’d bring the rich and powerful down to earth and he’d pull the rest of us up simply by listening to him.
The respect he had was and IS immeasurable.
Where I truly saw that in force was in the mid 90’s.
The city was in a big funk…and Bruce called each and every Manager of media to a special meeting downtown one day.
Back then all media was managed or owned locally...it was before consolidation so every property was separate, and all decisions were handled in town…
There were about 25 or so of us in the room and Bruce was calling us to task…pointing out that we allowed too many of our people…or newscasts…that our columns too were overly negative or critical…and that it was up to us to all help turn this around…to talk about how great a city and province we live in.
No it wasn’t ‘controlling the media’ but it was simply common sense that Edmontonians listened to us…watched us…and read our columns and that it was our civic duty to help make this city tick and move it forward.
There was almost dead silence as we all looked at each other and thought…he’s right….and we took his message back to our operations to put into force.
Bruce is in the Canadian Broadcast Association Hall of Fame…among the giants of the industry....recognized by his peers for an amazing contribution to our industry.
His TV Editorials were amongst the first in the country and people 'grew up' watching and listening to Bruce digging into the depths of how our city worked...it was a powerful gig.
Finally...my Dad gave me several tips as an 18 year old kid getting into the broadcast business....and the top piece of advice was "hang around successful people.'
Nobody was more successful for all the reasons I've just mentioned and Bruce is at the top of that list for which I am eternally grateful.
Both Gail and Bruce Hogle have Enriched my life and it will never ever be forgotten.
Rest in peace my friends...
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