JOHN BOGNATZ
Class of 2015
CADET / BOOSTER MEMBER / VOLUNTEER / SOUVENIR DESIGNER / ARTIST
Cadet Years: Brass/French Horn (1948-1959)
Volunteer/Souvenir Designer/Artist (1960-1990’s)
HIS CADET STORY:
Mr. Bognatz spanned decades of participation as a marching member, Cadet parent, contributor, collaborator and booster. He was a member of the Holy Name Cadets and Garfield Cadets from 1948 to 1959. It was during this time that he perhaps made his most significant contribution that every cadet for generations would come to know – the first Garfield Cadets logo. When the Corps separated from Holy Name Church, as a marching member of the corps and aspiring artist, he offered to design the corps’ new logo – becoming a timeless symbol transcending several name changes and geographical affiliations. It represented a proud tradition and embodied the very meaning of what it meant to be a Cadet – a symbol coveted by all those who have ever worn maroon and gold.
Throughout the following 30+ years, even before his children Kelly and Kerry became Cadet Plebes and then Cadets themselves, Mr. Bognatz enthusiastically and tirelessly gave his time and his talent to create the visual and brand identity associated with the Corps, designing and producing the many assets needed by the corps both on and off the field. This included all graphics, signage and posters for Cadets events and competitions, annual program books, drumheads, flags, equipment trucks and even our annual award plaques. He was responsible for developing and producing many of the corps’ promotional and souvenir items, including T-shirts, bumper stickers, decals, mugs, hats, bass drumheads, flags etc., just to name a few, and would always provide unique custom-made table settings for all Cadet dances, corps banquets or beefsteak fundraisers. More often than not, this involved countless hours of silk screening and painting in the basement of his home where he would employ the help of his entire family, especially his wife, Anita, who wholeheartedly supported his efforts. After all, it was through the Corps that John and Anita met when Anita was 15 and went over to check out the Cadet that fainted on the field during a contest.
As parents of two (2) Cadets, John and Anita hit the road to go ‘on tour’ with the Corps to run the “booster table” out of the back of their family station wagon – all on their own dime. They also volunteered for the many fundraising events (a necessary requirement in those days) and best of all, they generously opened their home to ‘out-of-town’ Cadets who needed a place to stay on the weekends and throughout the summer.
His favorite sayings were, “What do you need”, and “I have an idea” . . .
