Forrest Hoglund, a Dallas philanthropist and business leader, has been named the 2025 George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award by the College Baseball Foundation.
The foundation said the award honors the “accomplishments of college baseball players who achieved greatness off the diamond.” The 91-year-old natural gas executive played baseball during his time at the University of Kansas between 1954 and 1956, according to the news release.
“Mr. Hoglund was a team captain and standout at Kansas before embarking on a truly remarkable business career in the oil and gas industry,” said Tom Jacobs, the foundation’s CEO. “Along the way, his ardent support of numerous causes made a meaningful impact in his community and a difference in the lives of millions of people who have been touched by his generosity.”
The award has been given six times since 2014, starting with former President George H.W. Bush. Others with strong ties to Texas include Congressman Roger Williams and Dr. Bobby Brown, who served as the American League president between 1984 and 1994.
“It’s a good group, and I’m just pleased as I could be to be included,” Hoglund said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News.
Besides the award, he also has the baseball home of the University of Kansas’ Jayhawks named after him. The Hoglund Ballpark opened in 1988.
“I just love the college game,” he said. “It doesn’t have the big money like football and basketball has, but the competition and all that is just awesome, and it’s just a great, great sport.”
But after graduation, Hoglund said he chose to go to work in the oil and gas industry in Texas instead of playing minor league baseball with the Yankees. He also used to joke that this route was how he was able to donate money for the university ballpark.
“I told them that if I go to play Class C for the Yankees, they probably would never have a baseball stadium,” he said.
In Dallas, Hoglund is a prominent figure for his philanthropic work, including through the Hoglund Foundation that said it has given out more than $65 million in grants to groups focusing on education and family support.
He also received the 85th Linz Award, which is considered Dallas’ oldest and most prestigious civic honor, in 2024. It was awarded to recognize his role as chairman of the $185 million campaign to build the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
He was later inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2017, among a slew of other awards.
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