Holzhammer, Robert, Rev. (1923?-2015)

HOLZHAMMER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 20:02:31

Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, March 26, 2015

Rev Robert Holzhammer Dies

Rev. Canon Robert E. Holzhammer, the longtime public address announcer at University of Iowa football and basketball games, passed away Tuesday, December 24. He was 92. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City. The family will welcome friends to a time of fellowship and celebration of Father Bob's life at the Paul Brechler Press Box at Kinnick Stadium from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday April 11.

Known as "Father Bob", Holzhammer first handled the public address announcing at Iowa football games in 1974. He added basketball announcing that same season. Holzhammer retired from the basketball announcing in 1999 and called his last football games during the 2000 season. Holzhammer in 1989 was named an Honorary Letterman by the National Iowa Varsity Club. He was a member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association and Varsity I Club.

Holzhammer was a graduate of Bellevue, Iowa, High School. He began his college career at Iowa after serving as a flyer in the Air Force in World War II. He graduated from Iowa in 1949. He earned his Master's in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia in 1952 and a Master's in American Church History from the University of the South in 1971.

Holzhammer served parishes in Iowa Falls, Webster City and Dubuque before moving to Iowa City in 1962, becoming rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Edward and his wife, Meredith.