A Life Devoted in Service: The Legendary Canon Logan


1928-2021

The Rev. Canon John A. Logan, Jr. entered glory Saturday, August 14, 2021. After gracefully battling bouts of illness over the past few months, he quietly passed away at Methodist Hospital at the age of 93.

Logan grew up in La Grange, Texas, and graduated high school at age 16. Immediately after, he enrolled at the University of Texas in the summer of 1945. At age 21, he completed law school. 

Although he aspired to become a lawyer, life led him onto a different path after discovering the Episcopal Church his sophomore year and became an active member of All Saints’, Austin. 

Logan entered Virginia Theological Seminary in 1950. He was ordained a deacon in July 1953 at St. James, La Grange, and he became an ordained priest in July 1954 at Good Shepherd, Austin. Since that time, Logan has served churches in Austin, Waco and Houston, and earned an MA from the University of Virginia, studying religion in literature.

On June 24, 1979, Christ Church Cathedral welcomed Logan. He served the Cathedral in various roles, including as sub dean under Dean Pittman McGehee for more than a decade and then as acting dean.

Logan often said: “I ran the Cathedral so that Pittman could lead it.”

In addition to his Cathedral work, Logan has served as secretary for the Diocese of Texas since 1986. From 1996 to 2000, Logan also served Bishop Claude Payne as canon to the ordinary until he reached mandatory clergy retirement age at 72. Most recently, Logan was canon emeritus for the Cathedral and the Diocese and served seven of the nine bishops of the Diocese of Texas.

“It is difficult to fathom what the Cathedral might be without John’s long presence and influence,” said the Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, dean of Christ Church Cathedral.

It was with a fervent spirit that Logan served the Diocese of Texas for more than 67 years. He touched the lives of many people along the way.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, October 2, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed towards the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas St., Houston, TX 77002; or to the AIDS Foundation Houston, 6260 Westpark Drive, Ste. 100, Houston, TX 77057; or to The Beacon Homeless Services, 1117 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002.

To learn more about the life and the influence Logan played in the Diocese of Texas, click here to read a piece written of him in 2014.

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