Dolores Marie Hollar

Dolores "Dee" Hollar, age 77, passed away Monday, February 13, 2006, after surviving a massive heart attack on January 30, 2006. Her children were at her side. Dee was born on January 25, 1929, in Nicholson, Pennsylvania and graduated as a basketball letterman from Tunkhannock High School. After graduation, Dee played semi-pro softball for three seasons before marrying Richard B. Hollar in 1950, with whom she had three loving children, and traveled the world as a military wife and family. Dee's husband preceded her in death in 1974. In addition to her family and the social activities of an officer's wife, she began a lifelong passion as a volunteer, first with the Red Cross in Italy, Virginia, culminating at Ft. Sam Houston during the Vietnam War.

Dee's passion was her children and sports, swimming in particular. For over 40 years, starting out as a timer for her children's swim team in Virginia, then on to Texas in 1968, and the Ft. Sam Houston Aquabrats, Dee earned the highest degrees of swimming official certification reaching a pinnacle by officiating at the 1992 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. She traveled the world as the USA Swim Team Manager for the World Games and Pan American Games.

Her volunteer passion flourished in sports other than swimming. Dee was the secretary and treasurer of the South Texas AAU for over 30 years, "sports for all forever" was the motto as well as Dee's. She was involved in Modern Pentathlon for many years as the lead swimming official for the sport and officiated this sport as well as at the Olympic Games.

In 1979, she was named Outstanding Sportswoman of the Year by the San Antonio Express-News. In 1998, Dee was voted into the San Antonio Woman's Hall of Fame for Athletics and served as their treasurer until last year. Dee was unanimously awarded the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association TISCA Award for "Outstanding Achievement" to high school swimming. The award, voted on by the coaches in the state of Texas, was a ring with a blue star, which she so cherished, was presented to Dee at the 2004 High School State Meet. She served the Texas State High School Swim Meet as Director and Administrative Referee for over 30 years. Dee was the driving force behind building the San Antonio Natatorium in 1981. She so enjoyed helping young people get into swimming and sports because she knew that participating in sports would help them throughout the rest of their life.

Dee had a very large and loving group of friends. She league bowled since the 1960's and competed at every level of competition. She cherished her friends at the Ft. Sam and Astro Bowling Lanes and had a special bond with a group of bowlers, her "seesters" whom she loved dearly. Dee was a square and round dancer with the Double Diamonds and Alamo Area clubs and danced with her long time companion of 18 years, Mac McDonald, until his death in 2002. Dee was an avid Spurs fan, a season ticket holder for several decades who never missed a home game, and was often the first one in the door. Recently she joined the Red Hat Society and really enjoyed meeting everyone for lunch and fun.

Dee was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church for over 34 years and had a special friend in Monsignor Brosnan who shared a common enthusiasm of sports.

Dee's life was complete. She raised a loving family and was a loving grandmother to seven granddaughters and two grandsons. She never missed an opportunity to witness a play, concert, swim meet, horse show, or soccer game. She sewed costumes, visited those who lived far away, and was always present for the special events of their growing up. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Steven Ince, Sr. Dee is survived by son, Rick Hollar, his wife Debbie, and their children Ashley, Laura, Melanie and Julia; daughter, Nancy Hollar Ince, her children Beverly, Jennifer, and Steven Jr.; and daughter, Peggy Hollar Little, her husband David, and their children Christiana and Grayson. Dee's cats, Lucky and Midnight, will also miss Dee, but will live on with Dee's children.

Donations to the San Antonio Humane Society, in her Honor, would be a great memorial to Dee.