HOGARTH, Murray Edgar
Oct 3, 1930 - August 11, 2014

Passed away peacefully, at his cottage surrounded by his family.

Murray Hogarth - family man, entrepreneur, philanthropist and friend was born in Kingston, Ontario and grew up in Napanee. Founder & Chairman Emeritus Pioneer Energy, Canada's largest private independent petroleum marketer.

He attended Queen’s University and learned the retail service business from his parents Gertrude Irene Hogarth (nee Hunter) and Edgar Creighton Hogarth who owned Hogarth’s China and Gift which operated for over 80 years in downtown Napanee. For most of those years the family business was owned by his late brother Donald Hunter Hogarth (Sandra nee Wartman survived) who recently passed away on June 8th.
Murray is survived by his loving wife Diana Ruth Hogarth (nee Watson), his five sons: Gregory (Heather), Geoffrey, Timothy (Constance), Edgar “Chris” (Colleen), Peter (Margaret). He is also survived by his Grand Children: Fraser, Lauren, Taylor, Hunter, Avery, Hannah, James, Kendall, Daniel, Connelly, John, Thomas and Andrew.
While attending Queen’s University, Murray’s first entrepreneurial foray was his launch of the Top Hats Orchestra with his brother Don in Napanee which helped fund his university education. Murray was an excellent trumpet player and always had a great love for music playing his trumpet with other musician friends at many cottage gatherings.
Entrepreneur and Philanthropist par excellence... Murray founded Pioneer Energy (formerly ‘Pioneer Petroleums’) in Hamilton, Ontario in 1956. Today, Pioneer is Canada’s largest private independent retail petroleum marketer with over 400 locations across Ontario and Manitoba under the Pioneer and Esso brands. Pioneer Energy is a Platinum Member of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.
Murray quite literally ‘Pioneered’ the retail petroleum industry with a list of industry firsts by being at the forefront of many innovations such as; the introduction of automatic pump nozzles in 1964, placing full time attendants at the pump islands thereby eliminating the bell cords, introducing the Pioneer money loyalty program (now Pioneer Bonus Bucks) in the 1960s, developing the first hook-less car wash conveyor, and more. Many innovations continue to this day.
Murray as an entrepreneur has been involved in the startup and as an investor of numerous business ventures covering the range of residential and commercial real estate development, manufacturing and distribution enterprises, plus retail chain operations in fast food (Tim Horton’s and Wendy’s), swimming pools (Pioneer Pools), and soft drinks (Pop Shoppes, sold to Cott Beverages). Murray and his family have lived and worked in the Greater Hamilton and Burlington region the majority of their lives.

He was the founding Chairman of the Canadian Federation of Independent Petroleum Marketers, founding director of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (C.A.F.E.), a past director of various corporations including Scott’s Hospitality Inc., Grad and Walker Energy Corp., Atlantis Resources, E.D. Smith & Sons Ltd., and National Paper Goods.
Murray served as Chairman of The Hamilton Community Foundation and was a leading force behind Canada’s national foundation movement as part of the 2000 millennium initiative. He was instrumental in the founding of both the Burlington Community Foundation and Napanee & District Community Foundation. As a past Chairman of Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation in Burlington he helped found the Brant Centre nursing home adjacent to the hospital.

Murray strongly believed that success in business and in life was a direct result of the support one received from the communities one lived and worked in. As such he felt a strong duty to give back to those communities that had supported him. His family all feel the same sense of duty and are honored to continue this legacy. Murray was a generous supporter of several charitable causes and organizations across Ontario and Manitoba, both through individual and corporate donations. Many of these causes were focused on improving the health and welfare for children and their families as well as supporting our Canadian soldiers and their families. In 2013, Murray and his family celebrated the opening of Ontario’s largest children’s ophthalmology clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital (“Hogarth Family and Pioneer Energy Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic”).


Murray Hogarth has been the recipient of many awards such as:

• Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropy Award
• Rotary Club of Burlington Annual Service Award
• Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow Award
• 2008 Inductee Hamilton Gallery of Distinction
• 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year - Burlington, Ontario
• 2013 Philanthropist of the Year in 2013 - Burlington, Ontario

Murray believed in integrity, humility, commitment and family values. He was a great mentor, coach and role model to many. Always incredibly creative and fair in his dealings with others (his word was his bond). He truly enjoyed helping others succeed in life.

The family would like to thank Dr. Adam Grzeslo, Dr. Neil Fleshner and the North Simcoe CCAC for the excellent care he received. Special thanks to Aunt Sandra for the love and support she gave as well. The family would also like to thank all the amazing friends and associates for their well wishes and support. If anyone would like to share a story a picture or an anecdote about Murray please send it to greg@qsrgroup.ca

All are welcome to attend a VISITATION at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW), BURLINGTON (905-632-3333), on Tuesday August 19, 2014, from 3pm to 5pm and from 7pm to 9pm.
The family wishes to invite family and close personal friends to a private celebration of Murray’s life at Port Nelson United Church 3132 South Dr. (at Rossmore Blvd.), Burlington, on Wednesday August 20, 2014 at 11am. Private cremation.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hamilton Community Foundation (hamiltoncommunityfoundation.ca), the Burlington Community Foundation (burlingtonfoundation.org), the Napanee and District Community Foundation (ndcf.ca) or the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (thepmcf.ca).