Holland R. Donan ’51

Hollie was born June 24, 1928, in Montclair, N.J. He attended Montclair High School and Blair Academy. At Princeton, Hollie majored in history, was active in Orange Key, and ate at Tiger Inn. He roomed with Will Hamilton, Cham Johnston, and Hal Urschel.

Hollie had a storied collegiate football career, being named an All-American twice. Charlie Caldwell ’25 called him the best tackle he ever had coached and a great team motivator. In 1950, the team won the Lambert Trophy and had its first perfect record in 15 seasons. Hollie was named Lineman of the Year in 1951 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

He married Nancy Carroll in 1951 and served in the Army Transportation Corps. He had a 50-year career in the insurance business and for 30 years was named to the Million Dollar Roundtable, a trade association formed to help insurance brokers establish best business practices.

Hollie died March 4, 2014, of cardiopulmonary arrest. He is survived by his children, Ann, William, Katherine, Susan, Mary Ellin, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Peter; 17 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Nancy and his brothers, James and Anderson, predeceased him.