Jerome H. Holland
Encyclopedia
Jerome H. Holland was an educational administrator and diplomat.
Jerome Heartwell ("Brud") Holland grew up in Auburn, New York
. He graduated from Cornell University
in 1939, after being the first African American
to play on its football
team. Although he was an accomplished football player, the National Football League
was racially segregated at that time, and he remained at Cornell. Brud was elected to the Sphinx Head Society during his last year at Cornell. He received a master’s degree in sociology two years later. After teaching sociology and physical education at Lincoln University
, he received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1950. Holland served as President of Delaware State College, from 1953 to 1959 and of the Hampton Institute
from 1960 to 1970.
He also wrote a number of economic and sociological studies of African Americans including Black Opportunity 1969. President
Nixon
appointed him ambassador to Sweden
in 1970, and he served for two years. Holland was also a board member of nine major United States companies including AT&T
and General Motors
. In 1972, Holland became the first African American to sit on the board of the New York Stock Exchange
, a position he held until 1980. He became a member of the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1965. In 1972, the NCAA awarded Holland its Theodore Roosevelt Award
.
From 1970 to 1972, Holland served as United States Ambassador to Sweden
.
He served on Cornell's Board of Trustees, and a dormitory was named in his honor. In 1987, the Jerome Holland scholarship program was established in his honor at the University of Virginia
to assist between 4 and 8 African American students each year.
Holland served as Chairman of the American Red Cross
Board of Governors from 1980 to 1985 and its blood laboratory is named in his honor.
Holland is a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C.
National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.
A high school football
stadium in Auburn is named after him.
On May 23, 1985, Jerome Holland was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
by President Ronald Reagan
.
Holland is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery
in Auburn, New York.
Jerome Heartwell ("Brud") Holland grew up in Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
. He graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1939, after being the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to play on its football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team. Although he was an accomplished football player, the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
was racially segregated at that time, and he remained at Cornell. Brud was elected to the Sphinx Head Society during his last year at Cornell. He received a master’s degree in sociology two years later. After teaching sociology and physical education at Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Lincoln University or University of Lincoln or variations may refer to:in England*University of Lincolnin New Zealand*Lincoln University, New Zealandin the United States*Lincoln University...
, he received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1950. Holland served as President of Delaware State College, from 1953 to 1959 and of the Hampton Institute
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
from 1960 to 1970.
He also wrote a number of economic and sociological studies of African Americans including Black Opportunity 1969. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
appointed him ambassador to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
in 1970, and he served for two years. Holland was also a board member of nine major United States companies including AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
and General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. In 1972, Holland became the first African American to sit on the board of the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
, a position he held until 1980. He became a member of the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1965. In 1972, the NCAA awarded Holland its Theodore Roosevelt Award
Theodore Roosevelt Award (NCAA)
The Theodore Roosevelt Award is the highest honor the National Collegiate Athletic Association may confer on an individual. The award is awarded annually to a graduate from an NCAA member institution who earned a varsity letter in college for participation in intercollegiate athletics, and who...
.
From 1970 to 1972, Holland served as United States Ambassador to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
.
He served on Cornell's Board of Trustees, and a dormitory was named in his honor. In 1987, the Jerome Holland scholarship program was established in his honor at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
to assist between 4 and 8 African American students each year.
Holland served as Chairman of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
Board of Governors from 1980 to 1985 and its blood laboratory is named in his honor.
Holland is a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C.
The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C.
The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., Inc. was founded in 1938 with the goals of "improving relationship between persons interested in the game of football; that there may be given encouragement for good, clean sport; that there may be a more perfect understanding among such persons; and, that...
National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.
A high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
stadium in Auburn is named after him.
On May 23, 1985, Jerome Holland was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Holland is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery
Fort Hill Cemetery
Fort Hill Cemetery, founded in 1851, is a cemetery located in downtown Auburn, New York. It features headstones of such notable people as William H. Seward with his son, William H. Seward, Jr....
in Auburn, New York.