Margaret L. Bogle, PhD

Margaret Lowe Bogle was born on August 31, 1936, in Grapevine, Texas, in a rural, agriculturally rich area. Shortly after her birth, her family relocated to Uvalde County in South Texas near Sabinal. There, she began first grade at age five, thanks to her grandfather—who had moved in with the family after the death of her grandmother. He became her closest companion and taught her to read, enabling her early start in school.

That year, Margaret and her small first-grade class were promoted directly to third grade due to a statewide shift in Texas from an 11-grade to a 12-grade school system. The family later moved to the Carroll Hill area (now known as Southlake-Carroll), and soon after, to Arkansas, where her father took a superintendent role during the final stages of World War II.

Her school years were spent in several Arkansas towns—including Kirby, Willisville, and Enola—as her father continued working in education and seasonal oil field jobs. The family eventually moved to Yell County, where he became principal and later superintendent of the newly formed Fourche Valley School District, the largest geographic school district in Arkansas. Located within the National Forest, the district consolidated ten small rural schools.

Margaret graduated from Fourche Valley High School in Briggsville at the age of 15, serving as valedictorian of her class. She then attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, earning a degree in Home Economics and Vocational Education. After graduation, she received a graduate fellowship in Human Nutrition at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she taught undergraduate nutrition courses and assisted the department chair.

Toward the end of her studies at Tennessee, Margaret was offered a two-year teaching contract at Ohio University in Athens, where she taught food and nutrition courses. During her first summer break, she returned to Arkansas to work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). There, she reconnected with Billy Jack, a high school friend and Navy veteran. Their renewed friendship quickly became a romance, and they married on June 21, 1958—a partnership that would last 55 years.

After their marriage, the couple lived in several Oklahoma cities as Billy Jack advanced in his career with Oklahoma Natural Gas Company. Margaret raised their three children and began her professional work in higher education and nutrition services. She worked as a supervisor for student teachers at the University of Oklahoma and later served as Director of Food and Nutrition at the Oklahoma School for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

The family eventually settled in Flower Mound, Texas, where they purchased a small acreage for their children to enjoy outdoor life. Margaret took a part-time teaching and research position at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, and became an early spokesperson for the newly launched Head Start program in the region. Billy Jack was elected to the Lewisville School Board, where he served three terms unopposed. The family was deeply engaged in local school activities, especially through the high school band program.

A pivotal moment in Margaret’s career came when she gave a Head Start presentation to a regional group. Afterward, she was approached by administrators from Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Little Rock, who invited her to lead the hospital’s Food and Nutrition Services—becoming the first full-time registered dietitian at the institution. This opportunity aligned with her community health interests and allowed her to return to Arkansas. Her employment was structured through the Arkansas Department of Health, with a continued commitment to a well-baby clinic in Mt. Ida, preserving her passion for public service.

Under Margaret’s leadership, ACH transformed its food services, introduced one of the first hospital-based infant formula laboratories in the country, and developed new standards for pediatric nutrition. She also collaborated with UAMS physicians to conduct groundbreaking research in pediatric nutrition, focusing on energy needs in children with cystic fibrosis. Her dissertation became the first published paper on the subject and helped improve clinical outcomes for patients. These efforts culminated in her earning a PhD in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University—supported by her ability to pay in-state tuition due to the absence of such a program in Arkansas.

Margaret's work garnered national recognition, and she was asked by the American Dietetic Association (now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) to lead the development of national standards for hospital formula rooms. Her success in research, service, and advocacy led to a faculty appointment in the Department of Pediatrics at UAMS.

Later, she was appointed Director of a groundbreaking, USDA-funded community-based nutrition research initiative across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The project partnered with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and land-grant universities in the region, promoting equity in nutrition research and local engagement. Under her leadership, the initiative gained international recognition for its collaborative and evidence-based approach.

In her personal life, Margaret faced the devastating loss of her daughter, who passed away from breast cancer in her 40s. Around the same time, the federal government offered early retirement buyouts, and Margaret chose to retire to be closer to her daughter and family in Texas. Sadly, her daughter passed away ten months later. Margaret and Billy Jack moved into the Highland Springs Senior Living Community in North Dallas, where they shared their final years together.

Billy Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep in 2023. Margaret continues to reside at Highland Springs, remaining active and connected with her family. As of 2025, she is blessed with six grandchildren (three of whom are married) and eight great-grandchildren, living across Texas, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Tennessee. Through FaceTime and visits, she continues to be an engaged and beloved presence in their lives.

Dr. Margaret Lowe Bogle’s life reflects a powerful legacy of educational leadership, public service, scientific achievement, and unwavering devotion to family and community.