Hall of Honor member John Hotard ’65 dies

John Hotard ’65, a founding member of the Texas A&M Former Journalism Students Association and a member of the FJSA Hall of Honor, died Feb. 12 at the age of 81.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the sanctuary of University Christian Church in Fort Worth.

Hotard was named to the FJSA Hall of Honor in 2003.

Hotard’s surname is well recognized on campus; Hotard Hall, originally a dormitory, was named for his father, Joseph Clifton “Cliff” Hotard, who ran Texas A&M’s food service department for many years. It now serves as the Office for Student Success.

The Bryan native majored in journalism at A&M and began writing a humor column for The Battalion in 1966. Scheduled to graduate in 1965, he put his education on hold while serving in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1965.

After graduation, he worked for the Associated Press for more than 14 years as a reporter/editor in Houston, Austin and Dallas. His last seven years with the AP was spent as Texas state editor, coordinating day-to-day news coverage in the state.

Hotard joined American Airlines in 1984 and quickly rose to the rank of manager of media relations in the company’s Corporate Communications Department. He was part of the company’s Go-Team, which is dispatched to scenes of crashes and major incidents. Hotard’s responsibilities included working with the media and the public affairs office of the National Transportation Safety Board.

He was on the cabinet of the Van Cliburn Foundation.

He will be interred next to his wife of 48 years, Susan, who died Feb. 18, 2023.

In addition to being a founding member of the Texas A&M FJSA, he served as president in 1999-2000.

Service Information:  https://www.robertsonmuellerharper.com/obituaries/john-hotard