Oldest Known SDSU Alumnus, William Vogt, Dies at 107

San Diego State University’s oldest known alumnus, William “Bill” Vogt (’35), died Feb. 29, just 17 days after celebrating his 107th birthday. 

Vogt’s passing, confirmed by his son, Bob Vogt, breaks a last living link to a part of SDSU history.

Vogt is believed to be the last remaining student to have attended classes at what was then the San Diego State Teachers College campus in Normal Heights, and among the first students to set foot on the present-day campus when it opened in 1931. It was during the Great Depression at a time when Edward L. Hardy, whom Vogt once recalled as “very low key,” was the school’s second president.

Vogt finished his business degree course work in late 1934 when San Diego State had no official commencement ceremony for mid-year degree completion. Although he said he requested a diploma, he could not recall having ever received one.

SDSU righted the omission on August 16, 2018, when, at the age of 105 and 83 years after he had earned it, Vogt’s diploma was presented to him by SDSU President Adela de la Torre during a ceremony at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. News coverage by local media was picked up by organizations who spread the story around the world. 

At the time, Vogt told the San Diego Union-Tribune he remembered being part of a group that painted a giant “S” on San Diego’s Cowles Mountain, a symbol of the college that stood for decades. 

Vogt was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War and retired in 1970 with the rank of commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

A notice of his death issued by the Navy said he enlisted in the Reserve with a rank of Yeoman First Class in 1940 and was called up Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as an intelligence officer at several locations, including California and Washington, D.C. While living in Seattle, he was called back to active duty upon the outbreak of the Korean War. 

In March 2016, Bob Vogt and his sister, Michelle “Shelley” Moss (’69), brought their father back to campus for a surprise tour a few weeks after William’s 103rd birthday.

The topper was a stop at Viejas Arena where the three met the SDSU men’s basketball coaches and players. The team presented William with a signed basketball.

“I watch them all the time,” William Vogt said after the meeting. “I didn't think I would ever have a chance just to shake hands with them.”

“I knew it would mean something to him,” Bob Vogt said. "It's a highlight in my dad’s life.”

William always looked forward to watching the Aztecs on television and rarely missed a game. On Feb. 11, he stayed up late to watch SDSU clinch the Mountain West Conference regular season title by defeating the University of New Mexico Lobos.

“He was so excited about it,” said SDSU Director of Marketing and Communications for University Relations and Development Tammy Blackburn (’94, ’01), who visited Vogt the next day – his birthday – and took him a cake. “We had a nice visit and he talked about the team. 

“He was also very interested in the university’s growth into Mission Valley and followed the latest news on developments there. He was always informed and sharp and told the most wonderful stories about the places he had gone and the people and things he had encountered over the course of his life. We are all going to miss him.”

Role model

Bob Vogt said his dad was his “best friend, a hero and a role model” and “particularly loyal to San Diego State.” He said one of the things he will miss most is the two of them watching Aztec basketball games together, especially this year’s team.

“He saw 90 years of SDSU basketball and this was the best team in 90 years,” Bob said. “The team meant a lot to him.

“In the Mountain West Tournament and in the NCAA Tournament I’ll be watching and he will be watching where ever he is and he will know (if the team wins). Tell (Coach) Dutcher that in the conference tournament and in the ‘Big Dance’ they have somebody on their side who is in the other world.”