January 11, 1934, to Joseph E. Logan and Myrtle Elizabeth Sanders Logan of the Bell School House Community in northern Oktibbeha County. Reports are that J.E. was the first baby born in Oktibbeha County that new year. As
the youngest of three children, J.E. grew up working on the family farm in the Bell School House Community before and after his father passed away in a vehicle accident when J.E was only 9 years old. J.E. attended Overstreet Elementary School and Starkville High School after the family moved into Starkville. During his high school years, Logan discovered that football, baseball and summer American Legion Baseball provided him many opportunities as a result of the work ethic he learned and was instilled in him at an early age. Logan excelled in both baseball and football while attending Starkville High School, earning him selection as a two-sport All Little Ten Conference player, and after his senior football season in 1951, he received the honor of being selected to represent the North Team in the Mississippi High School Football All-Star Game. At that game, he was voted the “Top Lineman” while securing a North Team victory. He also met and established a life-long relationship with his North All-Star Team Head Coach Carl Maddox, who later served as Director of Athletics at LSU and Mississippi State University.
With his All-Star recognition, Logan was invited to “walk-on” the Mississippi State University football team and to participate in MSU spring practices prior to his 1952 graduation from Starkville High School. Upon graduating from Starkville High School, and having made an impression on the MSU football coaches that spring, Logan was awarded a full athletic scholarship to play football at Mississippi State that fall. Upon conclusion of his first preseason practices that fall, Logan promptly earned a starting position on the team as guard and played in every game that season earning his first of four Varsity “M” Letter awards. Shortly after his first collegiate season in 1952, the NCAA ruled all freshmen student athletes were ineligible to participate in varsity competition, making Logan, for almost 20 years, one of only a small few four-year MSU Football letter winners.
After completing his freshman year at MSU, Logan made the decision to leave behind his college athletic scholarship and enlist in the United States Marine Corp, completing Basic Training at the Marine Corp Recruit Training Depot in San Diego, CA. Once assigned to USMC Camp Pendleton, CA, base commanders immediately learned of Logan’s collegiate play and assigned him and other former collegiate football stars, now Marines, to US Marine Corp Base football teams along the west coast. In 1953 and 1954, his Marine football teams competed against other Armed Forces teams and college teams along the West Coast where his teams won several Naval and Armed Forces Championships. Excelling during his playing time for the West Coast Marine Corp, Logan was transferred in 1955 to US Marine Corp Base, Kane’ohe Bay, Hawaii. He was again assigned to the base football team earning recognition as an Armed Forces Football All-Star and selected to represent the United State Marine Corp in the 1956 Hula Bowl, where Armed Forces All-Stars and NFL All- Stars combined to compete against College All-Stars in the annual game. Logan was extremely proud of his service in the US Marine Corp attaining the rank of Sergeant and he regularly attended reunions with fellow Marine teammates from all over the country. He was discharged from the Marine Corp in 1956 and returned to Starkville, where Mississippi State welcomed the very experienced sophomore back to the football team. Logan played the next three seasons for MSU, earning All-SEC Honorable Mention and was elected Team Captain for his 1958 senior season.
After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from MSU in 1959 and turning down free-agent offers from NFL teams, on August 13, 1959, Logan married his college sweetheart Margueritte Gladney of Artesia, MS. Their life together began encompassing a lifelong career in educating, mentoring, coaching and teaching many students, as well as their own children, in schools across Mississippi. The newlywed couple moved to Webb, MS where both served on the faculty at West Tallahatchie High School, and later, where son Jay was born. Logan served as an assistant football coach for three years until being elevated to head coach in 1962, and in 1965 his WTHS football team won the Delta Valley Conference Championship and that spring his track and field team won the MS High School Track & Field State Championship. Continuing his education, Logan earned a Master’s Degree in School Administration from Mississippi State University in 1964. With these accomplishments, the family soon moved to Jackson, MS to assist with the opening of Calloway High School in 1966 serving as Vice Principal until 1968, thus beginning a life-long career in school administration. In 1968 the Logan’s moved to Hollandale, MS, where daughter Ann was born, and he served as Principal of Hollandale High School until 1970 and then as Headmaster of Deer Creek Academy until 1972.
Logan returned to his hometown of Starkville in 1972 to begin a 22-year career as the Headmaster of Starkville Academy. “Fort Logan” as it has been called, set high standards across the state for education and athletic excellence, as well as the SA Band received multiple All-Superior ratings during his tenure, creating a source of pride, accomplishment and esteem for students, alumni, teachers and coaches still to this day. In 1995 the school’s football field was named “J.E. Logan Field” to honor his commitment to service, leadership, counsel, friendship and pride that he shared and imparted upon everyone. He was especially proud to have this honor bestowed upon him. Always the motivator and encourager, guaranteeing that rules would be followed and that “doing the right thing” would always be a point of emphasis, Logan continually guided students and faculty throughout his life by setting the standard for fortitude, discipline and devotion to your creator, your family and to others before self.
In 1996 Logan retired from Starkville Academy, and soon after, began an 8-year term as Director of Housing Facilities within the Department of Student Affairs at Mississippi State University. Logan thoroughly enjoyed this “return to school” and serving his alma mater, and he relished the time connecting with former students, as well as collaborating with university leaders and administrators during renovation and construction projects that included many of today’s student residence halls.
J.E. enjoyed following MSU sports, traveling to games, taking family trips and vacations, working in his “shop” and in his yard, and especially beging Papaw to his four grandchildren, watching them grow and excel in all they did. He was always happiest with his family, and thrilled to visit with his former teammates, students, coaches, and teachers, and their families, all of whom he considered his extended family.
A member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church upon his death, he faithfully served in many church leadership positions and committee memberships, as well as the MSU Wesley Foundation Board of Directors for multiple years. Logan served as past President of the Mississippi State Letterman’s M-Club, and as a member of the Bulldog Club, the National College Football Hall of Fame and the American Legion.
Logan was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Glendale Logan Melton of Union City, TN.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years Margueritte, son Joseph E. (Jay) Logan, Jr. of Starkville, daughter Ann Logan (Cliff) Hudson of Louisville, MS, older sister Betty Logan Orr of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, grandchildren Marla Hudson, Logan Hudson, Taylor Hudson and Jackson Hudson all of Louisville, MS.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at the Starkville Academy Gymnasium from 1pm to 3pm. A private family graveside service will follow the visitation at Memorial Garden Park in Starkville, MS.
Memorials may be made to the MSU Wesley Foundation or MSU Bulldog Club.
