David Paul Hollas, 81, passed away at home in Montgomery, Texas, on June 25, 2026, after a courageous six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Dave was born on November 13, 1944, in Edna, Texas, to Albert and Ann Hollas.
A 1963 graduate of Edna High School, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Texas State University and a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Houston. For several years, Dave taught economics and business courses at the college level. During that time, he met the late George Ballas, inventor of the original Weed Eater string trimmer. Dave and Mr. Ballas coauthored a book entitled, “The Making of an Entrepreneur” published by Prentice -Hall, Inc. in 1980. The book was required reading in several college business courses. After Mr. Ballas sold the Weed Eater company, Dave worked for Mr. Ballas as a market research consultant for new business ventures. He later joined Browning -Ferris Industries in the Mergers and Acquisitions Division. He then started his own Mergers and Acquisitions Company.
Dave met his wife, Betty, in 1971 and they married in 1972. They raised their two children in The Woodlands, Texas. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister, Sister Amata Hollas, his older brother, Bill, and his sister-in-law, Kathy Hollas. Dave is survived by his wife, Betty, his son, Paul and his wife Lindsay, his daughter, Beth Ann Andrews and her husband Kevin. He is also survived by his sister, Martha Sawyers and her husband, Norman, by his younger brother, Dan, his sister-in-law, Bunny Hollas, and six grandchildren: Jackson, Kendall, Matthew, and Madison Hollas and Brady and Beckett Andrews. Dave liked following sports and reading. He was a devout Catholic who collected many books, articles and online studies of his Catholic faith. In his later years, he built an extensive home library of Catholic material. However, Dave did not just read about his faith, he also yielded to the authority and love of Christ. He was always able to detach from the “things” of this world because he knew his real treasures would be in Heaven.
A visitation will be held at St. Mary Church, 8227 CR 205, Plantersville, Texas 77363, on July 10, 2026, at 9:30am to 10:00am, Rosary to follow. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30am with the Rite of Committal in St. Mary’s Cemetery. A Luncheon will follow in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary Church or MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas.
