THEOPHILUS ALONZO LOGAN

Theophilus - ONE WHO LOVES GOD 

Theophilus Alonzo Logan, born April 30, 1917, in Lima, Oklahoma, was the first of 5 children of Jerome Henry Logan and Mary Magdalene (Mollie) Payne Logan. He attended elementary school in Lima, and in 1935 graduated from Douglass High School in nearby Wewoka, Oklahoma. After high school, "Theo" enrolled in Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), one of the oldest historic Black colleges. He was initiated into the Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., in 1936, and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts in 1939. After graduation he worked for a short time in southeast Oklahoma as a church school organizer for the United Presbyterian Church. 

He later moved to San Diego, California, where he worked as a Social Worker until being drafted into a segregated Army in April 1942. Thereafter, he was selected to attend the Infantry Officers Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Following his commission, he was assigned to the 92nd Buffalo Infantry Division, 365th Combat Regiment, an all Black division. He went on to serve foreign tours of duty in Italy, Germany, Japan, and Korea, and also served as Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Lincoln University, Missouri. It was there, 1957, he met and married his wife, Martha R. Nash, who was also an instructor at Lincoln University. 

After 20 years of dedicated military service, Theo retired in July 1962 with the rank of Major having served in World War II and the Korean Conflict. During his service he received numerous awards, including the fourth highest ranking award, a Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster in both World War II and Korean Conflict. 

Having bravely served his country, he and Martha, and their two small children moved to San Diego where he embarked on his second career in real estate. In 1965, he and Martha opened Logan Realty. Through his tenacity he successfully negotiated with county officials to change the property address from 836 South 45th Street to 4490 Logan Avenue. 

Theo joined the San Diego Association of Realtors in 1965, becoming the first African American member. He went on to serve as a member in various capacities including several terms as a local, state, and national director. As an Association Director, in 1968, he was instrumental in the development of a drug intervention program implemented in high schools throughout the United States. As a result of his foresight, the Association received the National Association of Realtors' third highest award for community service. In 1978, Theo was elected and served as the first African American President of the Association. 

During his career as a broker, his primary focus was to secure homeownership for the African American and Hispanic American communities during the time of "Red Lining" when lending institutions refused to make loans in targeted areas of the city. As a real estate broker, Theo knew the importance of investing in real estate. He fought to secure FHA and VA loans to better expand housing opportunities for people of color. 

Theo was an active member of the San Diego Community serving in many capacities. Logan Realty, "The Office," as his family called it, became a landmark in the Southeast Community. It was a place where people from the community came to seek Theo's advice, not just on real estate matters. It was a place where questions and concerns were heard and help provided. If you had a problem, "Go see Mr. Logan." The Office remained active until 2010 when Theo retired at age 93.

During his lifetime, Theo received numerous awards. In 2011, he and Martha were recognized by KPBS and Union Bank as the 2011 Local Hero during Black History Month. He was most proud of receiving the distinguished recognition of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity award in January 2022. 

Theo was active in his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and served as President of the San Diego Alumni Chapter, from 1970-1971. He was named a Living Legend of the chapter in 2017. Theo also served on the San Diego Park and Recreation Board from 1969-1972. During his tenure, he influenced the Board to improve the park facilities in the Southeast Community. From 1980-1983, he assisted in the formation of, and served as the First Vice Chairman of the Southeast Development Corporation (SEDC). Other voluntary work included service on the San Diego County Tax Appeals Board, the Jackie Robinson YMCA Board, Boy Scouts of America, and the PTA. He was a financial sponsor of Little League and other community activities, in addition to being a vital member of his church, Christian Fellowship Congregational Church, UCC. 

Despite his chronological age, Theo never let age impede his lust for life and his love of God. He was Chaplain of the men's church group and attended retreats. Throughout the day he read and studied his heavily underlined Bible until his recent hospitalization. He stayed active in his fraternity and at age 102, he excitedly boarded a plane to Washington D.C. with Honor Flight to visit the war memorials. Theo was a family man. He loved his family (Logan, Reid, Porter, Payne, Smith, Walz) and never missed a family event. 

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 65 years, Martha Logan, a retired attorney; his son, William Logan (Devon); daughter Barbara Logan (Tevel Holeman Jr.); granddaughter Logan Celiene Holeman; grandsons Warren Logan, Robert J. Walz (Chibuzo), and Eric Walz; great grandson Arinze Walz; and many nephews, nieces, grand nephews and nieces, and great grand nephews and nieces, and a host of other family and friends.

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