A Lifetime of Supporting Students

OMAHA – Friends said education was his greatest passion. Dick Holland spent his life supporting students.

An alumnus and outspoken supporter of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Holland passed away Tuesday, Aug. 9. He was 95 years old.

One of the largest signs of his investment into UNO students' success sits on the corner of 67th & Center St. Holland's support proved key in allowing UNO to build Baxter Arena.

The name of Holland Community Ice honors that generosity.

Three years ago, UNO students, faculty and administrators celebrated Holland's support, leading a parade outside his home.

"What can you give Dick Holland but a parade?” one organizer told the Omaha World-Herald.

Along with his late wife Mary, Holland dedicated time and resources to organizations across the city, supporting the arts, education and youth mentoring programs.

Holland, a self-described child of the Great Depression, first enrolled at Omaha University (now UNO) in 1938, before cutting his studies short to serve during World War II. After his service, Holland returned to school, and switched his major from chemistry to art.

“My mother nearly fell over when I made the Dean’s List,” Holland said in a 2004 interview.

Holland saw proof of what investment can do for a university, first-hand.

In an interview for the UNO Magazine, he pointed out how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal funded the construction of what’s now Arts and Sciences Hall.

“That did a lot for university morale and allowed the university to attract great teachers,” Holland said.

Over the course of his successful career in advertising, and after, Holland’s support for UNO was wide-ranging.

His contributions not only funded Baxter Arena, but also the Robert T. Reilly Chair in the School of Communication, and the Holland Computing Center, which has a presence at the Peter Kiewit Institute.

Chancellor John Christensen said Holland was invested in UNO's success.

"Dick was an individual who cared about students and community at the highest level and believed that UNO, as a public institution, is and will continue to be strong. Dick’s advice, innovation and support in this regard was incredibly helpful to me personally and to the entire Maverick family."

The UNO Alumni Association honored Holland with its Citation for Alumni Achievement in 2007.

UNO Alumni Association President and CEO Lee Denker thanked Holland for making a second career of giving.

“He remains intimately engaged in the benefit of others and is as willing to give of his time and talent as he is of his treasure,” Denker said.

With each gift, Holland expressed a reluctance to step into the spotlight, accepting gratitude and recognition with humility and grace.

“What I am doing is giving back to the community, a partial payment for those who educated and supported me,” he said.

From all of our Maverick family: Thank you, Mr. Holland.

Read the Omaha World-Herald feature on Mr. Holland
Read the UNO Magazine feature of Dick and Mary Holland