Jim Vogt of Powell, an elected member of the Northwest College Board of Trustees, died Monday in a Billings hospital, where he had remained in intensive care since undergoing heart surgery on July 2.

Vogt’s heart surgery was successful, but his health continued to decline due to a fast-growing brain tumor that was diagnosed on Aug. 10. The tumor wasn’t visible in a CT scan in May, said his wife, Judy Vogt.

In an email to NWC trustees on Tuesday, NWC Board President John Housel of Cody said, “I am sure you have all heard by now that despite his resolve, determination and strong will, our fellow trustee was not able to defeat the ravages of his recently diagnosed brain tumor,” he said.

Housel said Vogt worked hard for the college and “was a driving force behind the good reputation and status our community colleges have achieved in recent years among the state college commission and legislators.”

Vogt dedicated much of his life to Northwest College, first as a longterm employee of the college, then as a member of the board. He also was the current vice president and a former president of the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees.

One of Vogt’s most significant contributions happened as a result of his leadership in the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees: The hiring of an executive director for the association, who advocates and lobbies for Wyoming’s seven community college districts and helps them speak with a unified voice.

“I wasn’t here then, but I’ve heard stories of what it was like before,” said NWC President Stefani Hicswa, an accomplishment she described as “huge.”

“Jim’s leadership on that has really made a difference for the entire state,” Hicswa said.

Vogt’s death is “a big loss” she said.

Vogt worked at the college for 30 years, first as student center director and math teacher, and later as the bookstore manager. He retired in 1997 and was elected to the board in 2002, 2006 and again in 2012.

Vogt also represented Northwest College on all of the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services in the Big Horn Basin.

“He was so committed to this campus in so many ways,” Hicswa said. “His commitment to his principles was something I noticed and admired and respected from him. He had institutional memory that he brought to the board that was invaluable in our discussions.”

He always was prepared for each board meeting, having read and studied the material in advance, she said.

Fellow Trustee Carolyn Danko of Powell, who also serves on the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees, said she and Vogt worked together for nine years.

“We probably put on 50,000 miles ... covering the state back and forth,” she said. “He was so dedicated. He was always the one who was superbly ready to come to the board meetings. He had read everything over and understood it, and the same for the state (association meetings),” she said.

Danko also cited Vogt’s leadership in hiring an executive director for the state association who “gets us all together so we’re all singing the same songs.”

Prior to that leadership, “we were just not communicating with our legislators, so the funding was all over the place,” she said. 

Trustee Mark Westerhold of Cody said he served on the board with Vogt for eight years.

“I really appreciated his time commitment that he always made to the college,” Westerhold said. “He traveled to meetings in Cheyenne and Casper, all over the state and all over the country, in support of Wyoming community colleges. We didn’t always agree, but we could debate respectfully, and over a period of time we could agree. I appreciated his perspective on all of the issues.

“No matter what, he was always looking out for Northwest College and the students’ best interest. I know he’ll be missed by the Northwest College community.”

“We surely will miss him and the enormity of his contributions,” Housel said.

The board has 30 days to appoint Vogt’s temporary replacement, but trustees’ focus now is on supporting his family and the college community, Housel said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Vogt family, the college campus community,” Hicswa said.

Family shares their memories

Vogt and his wife, Judy, have four grown children — son Jeff Vogt and daughters Sharon MacMillan, Sharlene Baumer and Tammy Rockhold — all of whom are Northwest College alumni, and four of his grandchildren attended Northwest as well.

Judy, Sharon and Jeff described Vogt as man who loved the college, sports and his family.

Judy said Vogt’s love for the college prompted him to run for a seat on the NWC Board of Trustees.

“He was proud of what was built up to that point and wanted to make sure that it kept going,” Jeff said.

They all said their father championed “the little guy” at the college: custodians, secretaries and support staff.

“He felt the college couldn’t run without them,” Judy added.

“I always tell people that I met my husband because he served me breakfast every day,” Judy Vogt said. “He worked at the cafeteria line when I was a student at Northern (State University).”

“Mom was the homecoming queen; dad was the football star,” Sharon said. “He was amazing.”

His love of football continued after he became a spectator.

“He loved Monday night football,” Judy said. “He was famous for his three TVs, and he could tell you what was going on on every one of them.”

Vogt’s love of sports included NWC athletics — and NWC athletes and their coaches returned that affection.

Jim Zeigler, NWC head wrestling coach and former athletic director, said, “This is my 24th year at Northwest, and I’ve known Jim from the beginning. He’s always been a great athletic supporter as an employee, a spectator and a board member. I can’t think of any home game that he did not attend.”

In addition, “He had a fondness for the coaches and the students, and he understood what athletics did for the student-athletes — for their growth and development — and what it did for the college. He really had an understanding of how athletics fit into an academic setting,” Zeigler said.

Sharon told of NWC volleyball players’ visit to Vogt’s hospital room Aug. 18 while they were in Billings for a scrimmage.

“The coach said, ‘There’s a lot,’ and I said, ‘Bring them all in,’” she said. “All the girls went up separately and introduced themselves. ... That was a gift to us, really.”

That was especially true for Judy, whose birthday was that day.

“They waited in the ICU waiting room and sang “Happy Birthday” and gave us lots of hugs,” Judy said.

All three used similar terms to describe the weeks since Vogt’s surgery on June 2: “A lot of curve balls.” “A lot of ups and downs.” “A roller coaster ride.”

But all have fond memories of the man who was their husband and father.

“I appreciate all the camping and hunting and fishing we used to do,” Jeff said. “He taught me love for the outdoors.”

“If we got to pick (a father), that’s the one we would have picked,” Sharon said.

Vogt’s funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, in the Yellowstone Building at Northwest College.