by Roger Johnson
If you could imagine the church elders as representing a stand of mature growth redwood trees, acting as a shield against the elements above for the benefit of the congregation living below, well the tree with the deepest roots and the tallest crown would most certainly have to be Dr. Fred Grogan. Beginning with his father, who was a church elder himself and his mother, who was involved with the ladies ministry, when Central lived downtown at Linden and Dudley, Fred has spent more years than any other elder, either sitting in Central’s pews learning about his real Father or pacing back and forth in one of its classrooms extolling the glorious virtues of the faith he holds so dear to his heart,.
Born in Memphis in 1930, to very devout Christian parents, Fred grew up as one of two children, a younger sister being his only sibling. He attended High School at the ONLY high school in town at the time, Central, lettered in football (In his junior year he helped them to win the state championship) and graduated in 1948. Heading off to UT Knoxville for a BS degree in Chemistry after high school, Fred came back to Memphis about three years later to attend medical school.
Since loyalty and consistency seem to be innate in his sprit, after his 2nd year or so of medical school, Fred married his longtime sweetheart, Nancy, a woman he had known since before he could remember, seriously; their parent’s had been friends since before they were born and after birth, though they were too young to remember, Fred and Nancy went to church together…pretty much gurgling at each other.
Fred graduated from medical school in 1954 and then began his residency in pediatrics. Halfway through his residency, he joined the Army whereupon he went to Atlanta and worked in the 3rd Army’s Headquarters’ Hospital as a Pediatric doctor. After his Army commitment was up he went back to Memphis and finished his residency, specializing in allergies. Remaining consistent, as he has to everything else in his spiritual, personal or professional life, Fred stayed true to his original medical training and to this day, 53 years after graduating from medical school, he is still a practicing allergist.
While Fred attended medical school, Nancy embarked upon a teaching career that lasted 30 years and which took her through the labyrinth of both the public and private sector school systems of Shelby County. She finished her career on a high note retiring as a 2nd grade teacher at Central Day School in the 1980s. Nancy though was not just content to be a teacher. She and Fred were fruitful and multiplied, in accordance with the Lord’s command, and were blessed to have three daughters, Janet, Ellen and Alise; all three of whom are devout Christians and one of whom, Ellen, is the head of the Women’s Ministry at Central Church.
Fred’s consistency of service in just about every aspect of his life is probably the most evident in his faith. Almost literally he was raised in the shadows and shelter of Central church and its immediate environs. As it moved eastwards so did he and as its foundations grew in size, so did Fred’s faith and commitment to God. Fred and Nancy have been involved in just about every aspect of Central’s offerings with regards to music, ministry, teaching or groups; you name it they have done it. In addition, he was brought in as a Deacon when he was in this 30’s, made an Elder in his 40’s, and has seen eight pastors progress through Central’s history. His service and commitment to his church is legendary, though in talking to him you wouldn’t get the feeling that he thinks he’s anything special.
Getting even more personal, Fred is a man of great faith. He believes unquestionably in the word of God, the Bible, and though he may believe that God speaks through men, pastors for example, he does not believe any pastor or person is above the law of the Bible. Like a knight on a crusade he is more than prepared to defend the congregation, indeed the whole of the church, against anything or anyone that attacks what he feels is God’s own creation. Finally, when Fred speaks it is for the express purpose of communicating an important thought, fact or idea; he is not frivolous with his words.
We should all feel blessed to have him as one of the eldest of the elders and may he remain so for many years to come.
