Draft:Richard Adams Hogan

Richard Adams Hogan (June 07, 1913 - January 28, 1981) was an American cartoon storyman (writer) during the Golden age of American animation. His most significant work was for Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. He wrote animated shorts, primarily under directors Chuck Jones and Tex Avery. Hogan wrote many animated shorts for characters; namely, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Egghead, Willoughby, Sniffles, Droopy, Butch, The Wolf, and Red Hot Riding Hood.

Early Life & Education
Richard Adams Hogan was born June 07, 1913 in Buffalo, New York to Florence Louise Hogan (née Adams) and John Martin Hogan. He has six siblings, two brothers and four sisters. His father worked at Buffalo Niagara Electric Corp. in Customer Manufacturing, and his mother was a Stenographer for a Grain Elevatoring Company, before becoming a Homemaker.

Richard graduated Class of 1931-1932 at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, New York. He had many accolades as a student. Hogan was a member of the Honors Society, Dramatic Society, Cheer Leaders, Class Office, C.S.M.C., Yearbook Staff, and Students Printer Staff. Richard attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, School of Fine and Applied Arts; where he majored in Pictorial Illustration. He was Educational Director of the "Artsmen" and graduated Class of 1938.

Warner Bros.
Richard Hogan started his career in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions at Termite Terrace. Leon Schlesinger Productions manufactured the Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes brands of cartoons for Warner Brothers. He received his first on screen credit in 1938, as Richard Hogan in Merrie Melodies, “The Major Lied till Dawn”. He would continue to write short stories under the direction of Chuck Jones and Tex Avery. The majority of Richard’s writing credits come under Chuck Jones, and the latter under Tex Avery. He wrote more than 30 cartoons for Warner Bros. at Leon Schlesinger Productions. Richard wrote most of the Sniffles cartoons; 8 of 12 in total, while under the direction of Chuck Jones. He wrote four Bugs Bunny cartoons. Richard wrote the 2nd and 4th Bugs Bunny prototype cartoons, “Prest-O Change-O’ (1939) and “Elmer's Candid Camera” (1940). His most notable cartoon was Tex Avery's, “A Wild Hare” (1940), it marked the official debut of Bugs Bunny. In 1941, “A Wild Hare” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon). It was also nominated for a Hugo Award in 1941 for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. His last Bugs Bunny short was “Elmer's Pet Rabbit” (1941). Hogan exited Leon Schlesinger Productions in 1942. He received a contract from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in 1942 to write for director Tex Avery.

MGM Studios
Richard Hogan joined Tex Avery at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios to create a new series of cartoons in 1942. That series would ultimately become “Tex Avery Screwball Classics”. Rich was Tex Avery's right-hand man and loyal colleague throughout his career. Their fellowship at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios marked the beginning for a series of cartoons by Tex Avery; that revolutionized the Golden age of American animation. Those cartoons forever changed the future of the genre. Richard wrote several of those very first animated shorts. One notable short is "Blitz Wolf" (1942), it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon). Richard enlistment into the Army in 1942, during WWII. He was replaced by Heck Allen as Tex Avery's new writer. In 1946, Richard rejoined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios after his tenure in the Army. The animated short "Lucky Ducky" (1948) was his first release back at Tex Avery's unit. Hogan wrote many of the Droopy cartoons. He wrote the very first official Droopy cartoon "Senor Droopy" (1949). Another notable short was "Magical Maestro" (1952). It was inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1993. Richard wrote three animated shorts that have been selected as the top 50 greatest cartoons. Those three cartoons are #7 "Red Hot Riding Hood" (1943), #15 "Bad Luck Blackie" (1949), and #23 "Little Rural Riding Hood" (1949). Richard continued to write short subject animation stories until 1952.

Legacy
Richard Adams Hogan holds significant importance for his writing contributions during the Golden age of American animation. The animated shorts that he wrote under Tex Avery innovated the future of cartoons worldwide. If there were a Declaration of Independence for cartoon history; his name would appear in the annals of history. Richard holds numerous accolades from his career as an American cartoon storyman. His credits appear in many documentaries and literature today.

Military
Richard Adams Hogan enlisted into the Army on August 26, 1942. He was sent to Fort Belvior, Virginia. He became part of the Company "D" 2nd Engineer School Regiment. Hogan was still under service after WWII ended for an additional 6 months. Richard departed the Army in March 1946 as Captain Richard Adams Hogan of the First Army Engineers' Section L at Fort Braggs, North Carolina.

Richard's records where apart of the fire that occurred on July 12, 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center that destroyed approximately 80% of the military personnel records for Army veterans that were discharged between 1912-1960.

Personal Life & Death
Richard Adams Hogan was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There he became engaged to Margaret Matilda Kramer. They were married in March 1946 in New Orleans, Louisiana. They resided in California; where they had two known children, Timothy Adams and Pamela Ann Hogan. Based on census records Timothy and Pamela appear to be twins. Richard and Margaret had been married for 31 years, before divorcing in September 1977.

On Wednesday, January 28th 1981 Richard Adams Hogan passed away in Los Angeles, California at the age of 67. He was interred into Forest Lawn Memorial Park-Hollywood Hills. 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068. Hogan is located at Section: Revelation, Lot; 3174, Space; 1.