Holland B. Evans

Holland Bowen Evans was born in Henryetta, Oklahoma on January 6, 1920. He was the son of Holland B. and Panthea Ready Evans. He attended public schools in Henryetta, Sayre and Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1938.

He entered the United States Army in January, 1942 as a private and was discharged as a 1st Lt. in February, 1946. While assigned to camp Barkley, Texas (near Abilene), he met the love of his life, Nell Blakney, on a blind date. (They were not each other’s date, but that was soon remedied by a determined Holland). They were married at the base chapel on October 8, 1942 and were happily married for nearly 70 years. Lt. Evans served in the Army Air Force as a personnel officer in Pocatello, Indiana, medical officer at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico and civilian personnel officer at La Junta, Colorado. Their first son Holland Jr. was born was born in Pocatello, Indiana in 1944.

After serving his country, Holland graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1948 with a degree in Business. Their second son Greg was born in Abilene, Texas in 1948. He began his life’s career in 1949 as Business Manager of the Seminole Common Consolidated School District in Seminole, Texas. He held this position for 10 years and accepted a position in Dallas to be the business manager for the architectural firm Fred Buford and Associates. Five years later, he returned to public school management and West Texas to serve as business manager of the Lamesa (1964-65) and later the Brownfield Independent School Districts (1965-67).

In 1967, Holland and family moved back to Dallas to join the newly established Dallas Community College District in their accounting department. He later transferred to the newly established Richland College campus, in suburban Richardson, as business manager and retired there in 1980 as Dean of Business Services. Holland was famous for his frugal budget-hawk attitude with taxpayer dollars and his ready wit. (He had an old parking meter in his office that took nickels and you better have had some nickels if you wanted more than 5 minutes with him. True story!)

Nell and Holland spent the next 30 years traveling between there log home in the mountains of Northern New Mexico and Dallas. They also took exciting trips to Asia and Europe. They became great photographers. They loved the mountains and spent every other month in New Mexico. They provided wonderful hospitality to family and friends in both locations.

Preceding Holland in death was his wife Nell and sister, Panthea Mae Freeman. He is survived by his sons, Holland Jr. and Greg; Holland Jr’s wife Floy, grandchildren, Bo (Holland IV) and Blake, their spouses Alejandra and Karissa, and great grandchildren, Kenley, Holland V, Alexandra, Eli and Hope. All loved their Papa! He loved his family with a passion and faithfulness that will be an inspiration to his sons and grandsons for a long time.

Nell and Holland were longtime members of First Methodist Church of Richardson, Texas. They supported many charities, most notably, the Blakney-Evans Scholarship Fund at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. This scholarship was established in their honor, by their children and grandchildren, to help business and education majors from Texas attain a Christian college education. Contributions in Holland’s memory could be made to these fine institutions or the charity of your choice.

Holland passed away in Houston on February 19, 2013 after a long illness.