Max E. Grogan

Max Eugene Grogan, age 71, passed away on June 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was born in Rockmart, GA and graduated Rockmart High School in 1962. He attended West Georgia College for two years, where he was a baseball standout. In 1964, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and played for two years for their AA team in Dubuque, IA. In 1966, he was drafted into the US Army, serving first as a tank crewman and then an artillery officer during the Vietnam War. While stationed at Ft Lewis, WA he earned his private pilot's license and developed a love for flying that would continue for the rest of his life. After leaving the army in 1969, he returned to Georgia where he received a BBA from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. He worked as an oil distributor until he went into business for himself and founded MBG properties. He successfully ran the business until he died. Max enjoyed photography and golf, but by far his favorite hobby was flying his Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft which was hangared at the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport. He was an instrument-rated pilot whose enthusiasm for flying was contagious. He never met a stranger, and he would gladly take anyone he met for...[more]

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ride in his plane. He and his family flew all over the United states, along with his co-pilot, his faithful dog, "Jessie." For many years he participated in the Angel Flight program, which transported patients and their families for medical treatment free of charge. He was a charter member of the BeechTalk online forums, and he hosted eight fly-ins for fellow BeechCraft pilots to come to Knoxville and share their love for flying. At the 8th fly-in, the members presented him with a plaque for his service and declared him to be the first "Ambassador of BeechTalk". Max is survived by his wife of 51 years, Bobbi Dill Grogan; son Brandon Grogan; sister Linda Wilkes and husband Ed; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents Robert and Queenie Grogan; brothers Donald, Terry, and Lynn; sisters Zelah Queen and Lucy Collins; and his beautiful daughter, Meghan Grogan. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 8th at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 5409 Jacksboro Pike Knoxville, TN. Receiving of friends will follow. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Grogan family and invites you to view and sign their online guestbook below.