Douglas Emerson Holt

Douglas was born on March 4, 1944, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Emerson and Elsie Ruth (Palmer) Holt. He was preceded in death by his parents. Douglas earned his bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist College in 1967, his Master of Social Work from Tulane University in 1971, and completed his PhD in Health Care Administration at Hartford University in 2006.

Douglas dedicated his career to helping children and families through social work, serving in leadership roles across multiple states including social work in Missouri, program direction in Alaska, and professorship at St. Mary of the Plains College in Kansas, where he also coached football. He was twice elected to the Kansas House of Representatives and helped found KANZ-FM, the first public radio station on the high plains of western Kansas and eastern Colorado. He went on to work and live in Arizona, California, Florida, Nebraska, and the Kansas City area before returning to Arkansas. In his later years, he found peace sitting with his wife Linda on their porch in Hot Springs Village, watching the birds and squirrels visit their feeders while enjoying the view of the trees and mountains.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; his sons, Matthew and Christopher (Anne); his sisters, Donna Vargas and Debbie Joyce; Linda’s sons, Charles (Emiko) Hough, Robert Hough, and several grandchildren.

There will be no service per Douglas's wishes.

Interment will be at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills.