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The path to earning and spending millions took Emil Ogden on some surprising twists — a short baseball career that brought him face to face with Jackie Robinson, trumpet gigs with big-band groups and a children’s show.

But throughout it all, those who knew Ogden best say he was uniquely aware of the Depression-era one-room house he grew up in and did his best to give back to those in a tight spot.

Ogden died of heart failure at the age of 89 Monday, leaving behind six children, 22 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and his own philanthropic mark on Bryan-College Station.

“We always improved things,” said Steve Ogden, Emil Ogden’s oldest son and former state senator.