Jack Conway Holland Jr.

Jay is survived by his wife of nearly 26 years Gloria Mayfield Holland and their three children Jack Conway Holland, III, Mary Katherine Holland and Caroline Emma Holland. He is preceded in death by his father Jack Conway Holland, Sr. He is also survived by his mother Billie Jean Hearne Holland, his siblings and their spouses Pamela Holland Adams (Robert), Paula Holland Rieker (Jim), Bryan Holland (Erica), Steven Holland (Sarah), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jay graduated from Richardson High School in 1981. Along with playing trombone in the band, his passion for school spirit began. Many remember him as the Richardson High School mascot, Oscar the Eagle. He went on to Texas A&M and graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Business degree in Marketing. At Texas A&M, he served as Vice President of the Student Body and was a member of the Corps of Cadets. Jay also won the Buck Weirus Spirit Award which is an honor awarded to only 55 students yearly who “demonstrate high involvement, create positive experiences throughout the Aggie community, impact student life at Texas A&M and enhance the Aggie spirit”.

After finishing college, Jay was employed by General Mills. With work experience under his belt, Jay set his sights on attending a prestigious business school. He accomplished his goal, earning an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1988.

After graduation, Jay worked in New York City in Marketing and Product Management for Time Life Magazine. Between graduating from Harvard and starting his job in New York, he toured Europe. On that trip, he met Gloria who also was travelling. An instant connection between the two of them formed and their journey together began.

Gloria and Jay were married December 23, 1989 and lived in New York until relocating to Dallas shortly thereafter. In Dallas, Jay took a position with the Dallas Times Herald. After the newspaper closed, he worked for A.C. Nielsen. He then went to work at Verizon Communications as a Marketing Manager.

By far, Jay’s greatest accomplishment was his marriage and three beautiful children. He was a kind, generous soul whose main focus was what he could do for his family. He was sentimental, taking each of his children individually on trips to create their own special memories. Upon returning from the trips, he would put together intricate scrapbooks to chronicle their travels. He had a special way of making Gloria and each of his children know they were his one and only. By far, his family is what made him the most proud.

Jay was blessed with boundless optimism and positive spirit and creativity. Jay enjoyed rebuilding, refurbishing and collecting. Jay could go from rebuilding an old truck to constructing a Victorian doll house with no hesitation.

Jay instilled the gift of leadership and love of Christ in his children. His involvement in Indian Guides as their tribe leader is a very fond memory of the children. He also encouraged each of them to set goals and always be confident they could achieve their goal. His encouragement to do whatever they put their minds to can be witnessed daily by their accomplishments.

The family will be receiving guests at Sparkman Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas on Sunday, October 11th from 2-4 pm. A memorial mass will be held on Monday, October 12th at 12 noon at St. Rita’s Catholic Church 12521 Inwood Road, Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his honor to the Jack Holland Memorial Fund, C/O Highlander Band Boosters, 4445 Southern Avenue, Dallas, TX 75205.