John M Holland - Biography

John was born at home on the 2nd of June, 1924 at 821 East 5th Street in Dallas, Texas. He was the youngest son of Ruby and Lewis Files Holland, growing up with five sisters and an older brother.

The Moore family who lived across the street from the Hollands had lost their home to fire leaving a vacant lot which the neighborhood children later used as a playground where they played softball and Red Rover. There were a dozen or so other kids who played with John and his siblings. The Holland family had a big back yard at their house where the kids put on plays for all of the parents to come and see. At night they played a game called “Piggy wants a signal.”

John’s sister, Adelaide Holland Holloway says of him, “Even though I was older than John, he was always looking after me like a "big brother." When our parents were gone and the kids got into an argument, Johnny was my protector, so to speak.”

John attended James Bowie Elementary School. A quotation taken from an autograph book signed upon graduation is very revealing! It reads: “God made the bushes, God made the trees. God made the girls for John to squeeze.” Later John went to school at W. H. Adamson High School. During Senior festivities, John met Ruby Dowd and they later married.

John was always horsing around; he was fun to be around. He always made sure everyone felt comfortable and that no one was left out. He was also quite an accomplished dancer. John Holland never met a stranger and he just loved people. He cared about what happened to them.

John graduated from high school in January of 1943 and in February, he was inducted into the 11th Airborne. Before “shipping out” overseas, John married Miss Ruby Dowd, also of Dallas.

During World War II, John served in the Pacific Theatre. He was part of an Honor Guard to welcome General MacArthur to Tokyo and then served as part of the Japan Occupation Forces. He, of course, also managed to play divisional baseball, football, and even boxed for a while.

John’s first daughter, Nanette, was born on November 11, 1946. He and Ruby divorced a short time later.

After the war, John played professional baseball for two years in the minor leagues all over Texas. John met Dorothy Frederick at a baseball game; he called her Peg. They fell in love and married in March of 1947. Earlier that year, John suffered a severe injury to his pitching arm and the Baseball Club released him from his contract on March 20, 1947. He was devastated. Playing "Pro ball” was all he had ever wanted to do.

With his baseball career suddenly over, John had to make a new plan for his life. After much soul searching, John went to into the cotton business. In 1949 he went to work for Cotton Import & Export located in the historic Cotton Exchange Building on Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas.

In 1952, John became a father again when his second daughter, Debbie, was born. She adored her Daddy. She followed him everywhere and tried to do everything he did. She was so much like him in fact that the family nick-named her “Little John.” In November of 1955, Nancy Jan Holland was born into the family.

John moved his family to Grand Prairie in 1956. John loved Grand Prairie. He really felt like it was home. Maybe that was because his grandparents Charles Morgan Bland and Mary Frances Yeates Bland had bought a big house and a farm from S. A. Fishburn there years before he was born. His grandmother named their place in Grand Prairie “Sunnyside.”

Whatever the reason, John was very active in the community. He served locally and nationally in the Grand Prairie chapter of the Optimist International civic club in several capacities including Lieutenant Governor and District Treasurer. He was named the "Man with 40,000 Sweethearts" by the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority.

After John retired, he served on the Board of several different companies and organizations. He freely shared the experience he had gained over the years in international business with an emphasis in the areas of import-export, international banking and U.S. Government barter contracts.

John and Peggy were founding members of Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie. He held several offices at Inglewood over the years and of course he played softball on the church team. He was still a faithful member at the time of his death. He loved his Sunday school class and they loved him. The card on their memorial flowers simply said, "Big John went about doing good."

The last few years of his life were devoted to caring for his invalid wife. As her illness dragged on and her temperament deteriorated, he somehow managed to remain the eternal optimist. He returned love and affection for every cross word.