Thomas L. Holt 1938-2004

HOLT, FRAISE, HIBBARD, HALL, WOODS, RECKER, WELSH, SEVILLE, PINNELL

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/21/2017 at 23:10:56

Thomas L. Holt, 65, of 864 Carriage Hill Drive, died suddenly, Monday, May 3, 2004, at home.

Services will be at noon Friday at St. John's Episcopal Church. Burial will be in Linwood Ceme- tery. Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. today at Egelhof, Sie-gert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road. Friends also may call after 11 a.m. Friday at the church.

He was born on May 5, 1938, in Fort Madison, Iowa, son of Gilbert and Dorothy (Fraise) Holt. He was a 1956 graduate of Fort Madison High School, where he was all-conference, all-state and Little All-American. He was recently inducted into his high school hall of fame.

He attended Drake University, Des Moines, on a full football scholarship. He lettered three years, was Mississippi Valley All-Conference two years, National AP Lineman of the Week and a member of the 1958 Sun Bowl team. He had since been recognized as an all-time great athlete in Drake University Bulldog history with the 1950-1960 Football Team of the Decade.

A member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the "D" Club, he graduated in 1960 with a business degree and joined International Harvester Motor Truck Division in both Iowa and California. He became the company's youngest manager of the largest branch in the company and then became head of fleet for the western region.

Sixteen years later, he left in 1976 to become the president and owner of Holt International Trucks in Dubuque. In 1980, he joined Riverside Tractor-Trailer as president and later was owner of DuMed in Dubuque.

Retiring at Apple Canyon Lake for nine years, he served as chairman of the Legislative Action Committee. He was past president of the 990 Club and was awarded Boss of the Year in 1988 from the Dubuque Jaycees. He also served for six years on the vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Tom was an avid golfer, successful businessman, beloved father of three, grandfather of three and soul mate for 50 years to his loving wife, Judy.

Surviving are his wife, Judith L. (Hibbard) Holt, of Dubuque; two daughters, Susen, of Gur-nee, Ill., and Karin Hall, of Hawthorn Woods, Ill.; a son, Dr. Thomas J. Holt, of Dubuque; a loving friend and son-in-law, Hilton Hall, of Hawthorn Woods; a darling daughter-in-law, Carla Holt, of Dubuque; a sister, Sharon Recker, of Dubuque; three grandchildren, Alexandria, Lauren and Nicholas; two nieces, Stacey (Keith) Welsh and Sara Seville, both of Dubuque; and a nephew, Bradley (Sheila) Pinnell, of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert, and mother, Dorothy (Fraise); a sister, Betty; and a brother-in-law, Cecil.

Memorials may be given to establish a football scholarship program in Tom's name.

A special thank-you to the wonderful neighbors and Dubuque Rescue Squad for being so kind in this tragic moment.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Thursday, May 6, 2004