Aslan Youth Ministries was founded in 1975 by Craig and Lynn Ann Bogard and Bill and Dusty Neergaard. After graduating from Eastern New Mexico University, Craig & Lynn Ann first moved to New Jersey in 1971 to work with Camp Shiloh, an organization serving disadvantaged children in and around New York City. During the Bogards’ one-year commitment to Camp Shiloh, they spent 9 months in New Jersey and 3 months in East New York Brooklyn. After their year with Shiloh, the Bogards returned to the Southwest in 1972 to join Craig’s sister, Dusty, and her husband, Bill, in ministry in El Paso, Texas. The Bogards’ time with Camp Shiloh in New Jersey had, however, changed them forever. In 1975, the two couples officially incorporated Aslan and moved to New Jersey to minister to disadvantaged children in Monmouth County.
For years, the two couples (left to right, Craig, Lynn Ann, Dusty & Bill) tirelessly ministered day in and day out to see Aslan become a success. In 1987, the Neergaards returned to New Mexico, and the Bogards assumed the full leadership of Aslan Youth Ministries. Bill and Dusty continued to be intricately involved with Aslan from afar. Sadly, Bill Neergaard died of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 1994. Dusty still remains a major supporter of the ministry.
In 1996, Aslan expanded its ministry into northeastern Haiti. After many years and well over a thousand success stories, Aslan Youth Ministries continues to positively impact and empower disadvantaged children in New Jersey and in Haiti.
Including Craig & Lynn Ann Bogard, Aslan currently employs one full-time staff member and three part-time staff. In addition, 500 caring adults and teens regularly volunteer their time and talents to serve as mentors, tutors, summer camp counselors, Right Choices teachers, board members, office helpers, bus drivers and Haiti volunteers. Others provide valuable in-kind services in areas such as computer consulting, pro bono legal assistance, public relations and in many other creative ways.
A Mission Rooted in Family
As you look at this picture of Ira and Arlene Bogard, you may have done a double take. Craig, our founder, is such a “spitting image” of his father it is hard to distinguish them. This is in more ways than just “looks.” Let us explain.
It is with great fondness that we remember “Bogie.” He literally supported Aslan Youth Ministries for over 64 years. In the early days both Craig and his sister Dusty were founders of this amazing ministry. It is his guidance first as a follower of Christ and then as a father that led his children first to the Lord and then to ministry. Bogie and his wife Arlene showed their children a deep love that was passionate. They helped them to see the importance of showing the hopeless there is one who is the Hope of the world.
Any of the times that Bogie and Arlene came to visit our Aslan programming he was an amazing example of wit, faithfulness and support. His influence both emotionally and financially to the ministry was profound. This is a man that well into his early nineties was still playing full rounds of golf and taking the world by storm. He is missed by all who knew him.
We wanted to share Bogie’s beautiful obituary with you.
Ira Allen Bogard was born in 1915 in Winters, Texas, a tiny village in the center of the state. His parents, Charlie Thomas and Myrtie Lee were itinerate cotton pickers who were as poor as church mice and traveled from place to place in a covered wagon. They settled in Winters for a while, because of the cottonseed mill that was there.
When Ira was born, he was blue, he wasn’t breathing and he was lifeless. In the wisdom of today’s world he would have been thrown away, as happens every day in America. However, in the civility of yesteryear his grandmother, Tennessee Louisiana Bogard, grabbed the tiny boy, dunked him in freezing cold ice water and put him in a warm wood stove. Shortly thereafter little Ira began to cry loudly and let Tennie Lou know that he was hungry!
For ninety-seven years Ira “Bogie” Bogard had a significant footprint on this earth. His childhood was spent in the backwoods along the Indian reservations surrounding McAlester, Oklahoma. From there his parents took him to Plainview, TX and then on to Logan, NM. It was there that he began to excel in sports of every kind, in particular baseball and basketball. Playing semi-pro ball in high school with the Tucumcari Utes, he was privileged to compete against Satchel Paige, Burley Grimes and Dizzy and Paul Dean. In one exhibition game against the barnstorming Pittsburgh Pirates he was offered a contract with the Pirates to play professional baseball. He declined, however, in order to pursue his education and enter college at New Mexico Normal (now Highlands) where he graduated in 3 years and 4 summers – the first in the entire Bogard clan to graduate college.
At 5’7½” he played forward on Normal’s basketball team, which at that time was one of the best small college teams in the nation. When the Harlem Globetrotters were first becoming famous, they came through Las Vegas to play 3 exhibition games against Normal, and Bogie and Normal are the only team in basketball history to have beaten the Trotters two out of three games!
Another of Bogie’s accomplishments was to hold the New Mexico record for the 50-yard dash for over 50 years. He was also an accomplished par golfer, with over 15 holes-in-one, and he twice won the State Seniors Tournament for his age bracket.
Bogie’s greatest accomplishments, however, were not in sports but in the lives he changed. After graduating from NM Normal, he began a wonderful career in teaching that spanned over 37 years. Although it began in Moriarty, most of his teaching career was done in Portales, where he met the forever love of his life, Ava Arlene Cooper. After a whirlwind, six-week courtship, the two were married, and their time together here on earth lasted over 70 years.
He enlisted in the Coast Guard on December 8, 1941, and served his country honorably throughout World War II. After the war he finished his Masters degree in education and returned to Portales to continue teaching. He proudly served as the Executive Director of the State Student Councils of New Mexico for 22 years, and he received the Distinguished Service Award for his countless years of distinctive service to high school students through his work with student council. He was a true American hero who loved God with all his heart and loved his country the same. He taught History and Government as it should be taught, and he challenged his students to learn to think for themselves.
After 40 years of teaching, he retired to sell real estate in Ruidoso. He taught Bible studies at his church, and he sent all the proceeds from the sale of his real estate to Aslan Youth Ministries, a work touching the lives of inner-city children in New Jersey and Haiti. This ministry that his children founded continues to this day. When Bogie and Arlene moved to Las Cruces to retire, they joined New Covenant Fellowship and continued to support numerous Christian works.
Finally, Bogie was as proud of his Native American heritage as of anything in his life. Part Lakota Sioux, he fought his entire life to help every person he came in contact with – whether student, friend or mere acquaintance – to understand how unfairly the original Americans have been treated throughout the history of our country. His passion regarding the plight of Native Americans reached such intensity that it often brought him to tears. Bogie left for the loving arms of Jesus early Monday morning. The best husband, father and grandfather in the world, there will never be another like him.
Bogie is survived by his wonderful wife, Arlene; his daughter, Dusty Neergaard; his son and daughter-in-law, Craig & Lynn Ann Bogard; his grandson and his wife, Shane & Susan Neergaard; his great-granddaughter, Maya Neergaard; and, his grandson, Christian Neergaard. He is predeceased by his grandsons, Daniél Bogard & Dustin Bogard and his son-in-law, Bill Neergaard. He is also survived by a host of family, friends and students throughout the world. Bogie was one of a kind.
