Topic: Frog Blog Profiles
In Memoriam: J. Alan Holman
Wednesday, August 16, 2006: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
16 August 2006
In Memoriam: J. Alan Holman (1931-2006)
Dr. J. Alan ("Al") Holman, passed away on 12 August 2006. Al taught vertebrate paleontology and herpetology courses at Michigan State University until his retirement. Not only was Al a prolific researcher and writer in vertebrate paleontology (focusing on Cenozoic and quaternary herpetofauna), but he was also very interested in and concerned about the biology and conservation of living reptiles, turtles, and amphibians. He was an active member of the Michigan DNR Technical Advisory Committee on Amphibians, Turtles, and Reptiles. He co-authored three popular books on the Michigan herpetofauna and had just finished collaborating on a revision of "Michigan Snakes," to be published soon. But his best known work was "Pleistocene Amphibians and Reptiles in North American," published by Oxford Press in 1995, and still the standard in the field today.
After his retirement, Al had continued his productivity, and always had a few articles and books coming out or in preparation. Despite his full plate of projects, Al never hesitated to stop and give assistance to a colleague or student in need.
Al's contributions to science will be greatly missed, but more than anything, his warmth, kindness and loyal friendship will be irreplaceable.
He was interred next to his wife, Peg Holman, at the Glendale Cemetery on Mount Hope Road in Lansing, Michigan, on 17 August.
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The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathies to the family and friends of J. Alan Holman.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Holman at the Michigan Herpetology Symposium this March at the Detroit Zoo where he gave a very informative, yet entertaining look at the history of Herpetology and distinguished herpetologists. He made sure to stress the point that he was only referring to herpetologists that were deceased as distinguished as to not upset anyone. He will be missed, and can now be added to his own list. I would like to extend my sympathies to the friends and family of Dr. Holman and my gratitude to the Detroit Zoo for giving me the opportunity to meet such an extraordinary man.