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Biography, Sports Nut, Military Service, Civic Involvement, Inglewood Church, Family History, Loving Memories, Guest Book, Home Page
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Civic Involvement
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Before John Holland moved to “GP,” he was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the 32nd Degree Scottish Rite in Dallas. His grandfather Holland and great-grandfather Holland had been very active Masons in White County, Arkansas as had his Uncle John.
When John “moved home” to Grand Prairie, however, he threw himself into community service.
He served locally and nationally in the Optimist International civic club, in such capacities as Lieutenant Governor and District Treasurer. In the GP Evening Optimist Club, he held the offices of President, VP, Secretary, and served as a Director on the Board.
The Optimist motto is Friend of Youth and they never had a better friend. The club was already involved in helping to develop the character of the community’s young men when John joined, but he made sure that the girls would be taken care of as well. He sponsored the Young Tex Anns so that they would have an equal opportunity with the boys. After that, John served as Youth Activities Chairman and Youth Club Chairman of the North Texas District.
John was never just a “shirt and tie” volunteer. During every December he would grab a quick supper at home and then head off to the Optimist Christmas tree lot. It rained, the wind blew, and it was down right cold! John still went to the tree lot. If you’ve ever flocked a tree, you know that it is messy work. As a favor to John: Buy your Christmas tree from an Optimist!
Just after John was named the Optimist of the Year (1972-73), the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority named him Man of the Year and proclaimed that he was “the Man with 40,000 Sweethearts.”
John helped to create the first drug abuse organization in Grand Prairie including setting up a “hot-line” for anyone seeking help in overcoming a drug problem. He organized, recruited, and supervised the training of the volunteers and even ran the program for the first two years of operation. The program was called HIP – Help is Possible. At the end of the first two years, John persuaded the City of Grand Prairie to sponsor the program and incorporate it into the new community hospital complete with a treatment center.
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Awards & Plaques
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John with Mayor Bill Bowles
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Man of the Year
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