Michael Ashley "Mike" Hogewood

Michael Ashley “Mike” Hogewood died Wednesday, September 5, 2018, just days short of his 64th birthday. He was the first-born child of Donald (deceased) and Mary Ann Hogewood. He attended public schools in Charlotte and Greensboro, graduating from Grimsley High School in 1972. He earned his B. A. in English and Speech from Lenoir Rhyne College where he was a member of Sigma Epsilon Fraternity, played on the tennis team, wrote for the college newspaper, sang in the choir, acted in The Playmakers, and ran the sound board for various college functions.

Even before he graduated, Mike was honing his broadcasting skills as “Mike Murphy” on the Top-40 station Channel One Radio in Hickory. A college internship at WSOC in Charlotte started a 40+ year career in sports broadcasting. He worked at WBTV in Charlotte; at WBBH in Fort Myers, Florida; and at WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama, where he hosted the weekly Bear Bryant Show. He was Sports Director at WGHP in High Point and at WFMY News2 in Greensboro for 14 years.

In 2001, Mike became a freelance broadcaster of live events. His distinctive voice was easily recognized by ACC fans who watched him on the sidelines of football games or calling play-by-play for basketball and baseball contests. He worked with many on-air professionals and behind-the-scenes technical crews.

Mike loved the preparation and research before an event as much as the event itself. His attention to detail and advance contact with the event participants often paid off when a game was lopsided or there was a weather delay. As he often said, “When I graduated from college, there was no Internet, cell phones were something out of a science fiction novel, a computer took up an entire room, the invention of cable TV was a few years away and a manual typewriter was used for all my college papers and my pre-game notes.”

That distinctive voice was also active in church choirs in Fort Myers, at Highlands Methodist Church in Birmingham, and at West Market Street United Methodist in Greensboro. He also loved musical theater and would carve out time to act in community productions. His credits include “A Little Night Music” at Birmingham’s Little Theatre along with Greensboro appearances in “Annie”, “1776” and “A Little Night Music” on the Carolina Theatre’s Main Stage. Mike emceed many sports –related and community events such as Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer and the Carolina’s 90th anniversary production.

In 2015, Mike received his Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies from UNCG. His passion for learning and mentoring young adults just beginning their careers helped him move into a second-career, teaching at the college level. Professor Mike Hogewood taught at Lenoir Rhyne University, Catawba College and was currently an adjunct teaching role at Pfeiffer University.

Mike loved people and was often known to conduct an “interview,” asking questions as though he was a reporter. He loved reading and had a bedside stack of varying genres. He loved spending time with this family in the hills near Boone and the tidal areas of Myrtle Beach.

Mike was recognized by his broadcasting peers with many awards. The most memorable awards include First Place among United Press International Broadcasters of Florida; two Alabama Associated Press Television Awards for Outstanding Broadcast Journalism, and several Best of Gannett Awards while working for WFMY News2. Mike also won two Southeast Regional Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Mike is survived by his mother, Mary Ann McKeel Hogewood; his wife of 42 years, Nancy Hoyle Phillips Hogewood; daughter, Melissa Carol Hogewood Garrison (David); son, Robert Montgomery Hogewood; grandchildren, MacKenzie Piper Garrison, Darden Wrenn Garrison and Pippa Jane Garrison; sister, Donna Hogewood Want (Alan); brother, Scot Douglas Hogewood; mother-in-law, Derusha Darden Phillips; brother-in-law, Robert Darden Phillips (Kathy); nieces and nephews, Heather Want King (Reid), Meagan Want, Evan Hogewood, Kate Hogewood West (Ryan), Jakeb Stokes Phillips and Ella Clare Darden Phillips; and many other great nieces and nephews and cousins.

Gifts of remembrance may be made to West Market United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 870, Greensboro, NC 27402; Lenoir Rhyne University for the Communications Department, P. O. Box 7467, Hickory, NC 28603; or to the Greater Greensboro Sports Council, c/o Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, 330 South Greene Street, Suite 100, Greensboro, NC 27401.

A Memorial Service will be held at West Market Street United Methodist Church, 302 West Market Street in Greensboro, on Monday, September 10 at 11:00 AM.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Hogewood family.