Obit Cherokee Co. Archives for: Name: Kenneth Alphonse Holland *************************************************************** Submitted by: Kay Hubbard Thompson Email: katiewho@intellex.com Date: 5/15/2002 to the Cherokee Co., OK Archives site http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cherokee/cherokee.html Bill Cook, Cherokee Co. Archivist, wcook14024@aol.com *************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *************************************************************** TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS TAHLEQUAH, OK APRIL 23, 2002 KENNETH A. HOLLAND Tahlequah--Funeral services for Dr. Kenneth Alphonse Holland, 81, of Tahlequah were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2002 at St. Basil's Episcopal Church in Tahlequah, with Rev. Kathleen Murray officiating. Burial followed in the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of the Reed-Culver Funeral Home of Tahlequah. Pallbearers included Tom Quimby, Bob Ed Culver, Ron Cox, Tom Carlile, Jack Dobbins, Mark Dobbins and Ken Willis. Dr. Elwin Fite and Dr. Al Williams served as honorary pallbearers. Dr. Holland was born March 27, 1921, in Memphis, Tenn., the son of W.E. and Myrtle (Reitz) Holland, and he passed from this life on Saturday, April 20, 2002, in Fayetteville, Ark. Holland grew up in Memphis, graduating from Memphis Central High School in 1939, where he was All-State in track, basketball and football. Following graduation, he attended Southwestern, now Rhodes College, in Memphis, where he was and All-American football player and majored in history and psychology. From July 1, 1943, to March 13, 1946, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and from 1948-'59 served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He was commissioned second lieutenant June 23, 1944; first lieutenant on Jan. 31, 1946; and ended his service with the rank of captain. While serving his country at Iwo Jima, Holland received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals in March of 1945. Following Kenneth's active tour of duty in the Marine Corps, he attended the University of Arkansas, where he was the starting tail-back for Coach John Barnhill's Razorbacks that won the southwest conference championship in 1946. In 1947, he played in the Cotton Bowl. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1948 with a bachelor of science degree in education, receiving his master's degree in education in 1950, and later, his doctorate degree in physical educate in 1963. In 1948, he returned to Memphis, Tenn., where he coached at East High School. He then spent two years as head football coach and athletic director at the University of Arkansas-Monticello (then Arkansas A&M). In 163, Kenneth and his family moved to Tahlequah, where he began a 23 year physical education professor and coaching tenure at Northeastern State University. He was a football assistant in 1963 and 1964, and for 12 years was assistant basketball coach to DR. Jack Dobbins. He was also the NSU men's tennis head coach for 18 years. He was the last to coach three sports in one season since the late Tom Rousey who died in 1963. On May 17, 1986, when Dr. Holland retired after teaching physical education and coaching for 23 years, a colorful chapter in NSU sports history was closed. In 1998, Dr. Holland was inducted into the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Holland was a member and past president of the Tahlequah Kiwanis Club and a lay reader and treasurer of ST. Basil's Episcopal Church. Dr. Holland's parents and one sister preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Majorie of the home; one son Michael William Holland of Fayetteville, Ark.; one sister-in-law, Mrs. P.C. Holland of Memphis Tenn.; one niece, Mrs Paul Meeks of Memphis, Tenn.; one cousin, D.C. Goff of Fayetteville, Ark.; and other relatives, as well as a host of friends and loved ones.