Harry Holiday
Encyclopedia
Harry Holiday, Jr. was a world record holder in the backstroke
at the University of Michigan
in the 1940s and the president of steelmaker American Rolling Mill Co. (Armco)
from 1974-1986.
Holiday was the NCAA backstroke champion in 1943 and 1947, won six NCAA swimming championships, and set seven world records and 18 American records. He missed the opportunity to compete in the Olympic games which were cancelled in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II
. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
in 1981 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1990.
He worked for Armco from 1949 until his retirement in 1986. He was the company's president from 1974-1986, adding the title of chief executive officer
in 1979 and chairman in 1982.
, Holiday trained with U-M swimming coach Matt Mann
. While still in high school, Holiday attended Mann's summer camps north of Toronto. He enrolled at Michigan in 1941 and became eligible for the varsity swim team in 1943. At the end of 1942, U-M swimming coach Mann predicted that his 18-year-old, 6’ 5” sophomore, Harry Holiday, would break every backstroke record. Mann said, "Holiday is the best the world has ever seen on his back and one of the finest of all time in the free-style." In an exhibition in late 1942, Holiday swam the 100-yard backstroke in 57 seconds, two-tenths of a second under the world record. In the 150-yard backstroke, he swam at 1:33 –- a full second under the NCAA record. Holiday had attended summer camps conducted by Mann in Canada for several years before enrolling at Michigan. In 1940, he finished second in the Canadian two-mile freestyle championship, 30 yards behind the winner, even though he swam backstroke the entire way.
In a January 1943 meet against Ohio State, Holiday finished three quarters of a length ahead of the nearest competitor in the 150-yard backstroke with a time of 1:35.9, one second ahead of the conference record. He also broke the world record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.3 seconds, won the 50-yard freestyle, and swam the winning leg of the 300-yard medley relay.
In early February 1943, Holiday received word that his U.S. Army reserve unit would be called to active duty in June. In a meet against Michigan State in February 1943, he set more records, including an NCAA record for the 150-yard backstroke (1:31.4). He also swam his leg of the 300-yard medley in a time of 56.9, three tenths of a second under the world record.
At the Big Ten meet in March 1943, he swam the 150-yard backstroke in 1:31.7 to set a conference and NCAA mark. He also paced the U-M team to an NCAA record in the 300-yard medley.
At the National AAU
swimming championship in April 1943, Holiday finally went head-to-head with world-record holder Adolph Kiefer
. Holiday beat Kiefer in the 150-yard backstroke at the AAU meet. The defeat was the first for Kiefer in eight years.
In his first two months of varsity competition, Holiday broke two of Adolph Kiefer’s world records, lowing the 100-yard backstroke mark to 57 seconds and the 200-meter standard to 2:22.9. In August 1943, the NCAA also recognized Holiday as the holder of the new world record in the 150-yard backstroke with a mark of 1:31.5.
, setting new Hawaiian records in the 200-yard medley and 150-yard backstroke event.
, where his father had been a plant manager for many years. Holiday began as an assistant metallurgist in the company's Middletown, Ohio
plant, and stayed with the company for 36 years until his retirement. He was appointed president in 1974, and chief executive officer in May 1979, and added the title of chairman in 1982. Holiday, "known for his optimistic determination, helped lead the steel industry through the boom of the 1960s and the troubled times that followed in the 1970s and 80's." He frequently called on the federal government to ensure that steel imports were legal, and, facing an economic downturn in the 1970s, pushed Armco to diversify. In 1984, Holiday had a heart attack, but recovered and returned to his position as Armco's CEO. Holiday retired from Armco in January 1986 and later served as a director for Adience, Inc., NBD Bank, N.A., ASARCO Incorporated, and Birmingham Steel Corp. In 1998, as Armco fell on hard times, Holiday and the company's other retired executives successfully sued to restore life insurance benefits granted under a plan that was supposed to last their lifetimes.
In February 1999, Holiday died of a heart attack in Boynton Beach, Florida
.
Holiday was survived by his wife of 51 years, Kay Watson Holiday, a daughter, Edith, two sons, Harry Holiday III, and Albert Holiday.
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1940s and the president of steelmaker American Rolling Mill Co. (Armco)
AK Steel Holding
AK Steel Corporation is an American steel company whose predecessor, Armco, was founded in 1899 in Middletown, Ohio. Today, the company's corporate headquarters is situated in West Chester, Ohio, after having moved from Middletown, Ohio, in August 2007.- Products :AK Steel's main products are...
from 1974-1986.
Holiday was the NCAA backstroke champion in 1943 and 1947, won six NCAA swimming championships, and set seven world records and 18 American records. He missed the opportunity to compete in the Olympic games which were cancelled in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in 1981 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
in 1990.
He worked for Armco from 1949 until his retirement in 1986. He was the company's president from 1974-1986, adding the title of chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in 1979 and chairman in 1982.
Early years
A native of Butler, PennsylvaniaButler, Pennsylvania
The city of Butler is the county seat of Butler County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated north of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, Holiday trained with U-M swimming coach Matt Mann
Matthew Mann
Matthew "Matt" Mann II was a British-born American college swimming coach and was coach of the men's swim team in the 1952 Summer Olympics that won four gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal....
. While still in high school, Holiday attended Mann's summer camps north of Toronto. He enrolled at Michigan in 1941 and became eligible for the varsity swim team in 1943. At the end of 1942, U-M swimming coach Mann predicted that his 18-year-old, 6’ 5” sophomore, Harry Holiday, would break every backstroke record. Mann said, "Holiday is the best the world has ever seen on his back and one of the finest of all time in the free-style." In an exhibition in late 1942, Holiday swam the 100-yard backstroke in 57 seconds, two-tenths of a second under the world record. In the 150-yard backstroke, he swam at 1:33 –- a full second under the NCAA record. Holiday had attended summer camps conducted by Mann in Canada for several years before enrolling at Michigan. In 1940, he finished second in the Canadian two-mile freestyle championship, 30 yards behind the winner, even though he swam backstroke the entire way.
1943 swim season
In early February 1943, Holiday received word that his U.S. Army reserve unit would be called to active duty in June. In a meet against Michigan State in February 1943, he set more records, including an NCAA record for the 150-yard backstroke (1:31.4). He also swam his leg of the 300-yard medley in a time of 56.9, three tenths of a second under the world record.
At the Big Ten meet in March 1943, he swam the 150-yard backstroke in 1:31.7 to set a conference and NCAA mark. He also paced the U-M team to an NCAA record in the 300-yard medley.
At the National AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
swimming championship in April 1943, Holiday finally went head-to-head with world-record holder Adolph Kiefer
Adolph Kiefer
Adolph Gustav "Sonny Boy" Kiefer was an American swimmer and the first man in the world to swim 100 yards backstroke under 1 minute. His backstroke records stood for 15 years...
. Holiday beat Kiefer in the 150-yard backstroke at the AAU meet. The defeat was the first for Kiefer in eight years.
In his first two months of varsity competition, Holiday broke two of Adolph Kiefer’s world records, lowing the 100-yard backstroke mark to 57 seconds and the 200-meter standard to 2:22.9. In August 1943, the NCAA also recognized Holiday as the holder of the new world record in the 150-yard backstroke with a mark of 1:31.5.
World War II
Holiday was called into active duty in the Army and did not compete for Michigan in 1944, 1945, or 1946. In June 1946, he did compete for the University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, setting new Hawaiian records in the 200-yard medley and 150-yard backstroke event.
1947 swim season
He returned to Michigan in 1947. That year, he set world and American records in the 140-yard individicual medley, the 300-meter and 40-yard backstroke events. He was the favorite at the 1947 NCAAs but was forced to withdraw after contracting the flu.Swimming accomplishments
Despite losing three years of his U-M swimming career to the war, Holiday set seven world records as a swimmer in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, 440-yard backstroke, 300-meter individual medley, and in three relay events. He also won six NCAA championships in the 150-yard backstroke, the 100-meter backstroke, and in four relay events. He also set 18 American records including the 100-yard backstroke, 150-yard backstroke, 150-meter backstroke, 100-meter backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 400-yard backstroke, 440-yard backstroke, and nine in relay events. Holiday was an NCAA champion every year he competed for the Wolverines.Business career with Armco
In 1949, Holiday went to work for steelmaker Armco, Inc. (originally American Rolling Mill Co.)AK Steel Holding
AK Steel Corporation is an American steel company whose predecessor, Armco, was founded in 1899 in Middletown, Ohio. Today, the company's corporate headquarters is situated in West Chester, Ohio, after having moved from Middletown, Ohio, in August 2007.- Products :AK Steel's main products are...
, where his father had been a plant manager for many years. Holiday began as an assistant metallurgist in the company's Middletown, Ohio
Middletown, Ohio
Middletown is an All-America City located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886...
plant, and stayed with the company for 36 years until his retirement. He was appointed president in 1974, and chief executive officer in May 1979, and added the title of chairman in 1982. Holiday, "known for his optimistic determination, helped lead the steel industry through the boom of the 1960s and the troubled times that followed in the 1970s and 80's." He frequently called on the federal government to ensure that steel imports were legal, and, facing an economic downturn in the 1970s, pushed Armco to diversify. In 1984, Holiday had a heart attack, but recovered and returned to his position as Armco's CEO. Holiday retired from Armco in January 1986 and later served as a director for Adience, Inc., NBD Bank, N.A., ASARCO Incorporated, and Birmingham Steel Corp. In 1998, as Armco fell on hard times, Holiday and the company's other retired executives successfully sued to restore life insurance benefits granted under a plan that was supposed to last their lifetimes.
In February 1999, Holiday died of a heart attack in Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
.
Holiday was survived by his wife of 51 years, Kay Watson Holiday, a daughter, Edith, two sons, Harry Holiday III, and Albert Holiday.