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ANR
Dear Editor:
My dad (who lives in Aurora) recently shared with me that Bill Holliday had passed.
I had the privilege of playing basketball for him my senior year at AHS, which bridged 1974-75. We experienced a modicum of success making it to the first round of the Class B State Tournament before losing to Minden in the quarterfinals. I like to think that we planted the seed that sprouted as a state championship the following year in 1976.
Coach Holliday was a task master and a disciplinarian, but he also cared about you both as an individual and a player. I’ll never forget running 15 or 20 sets of stairs in the old gym at the end of an otherwise grueling practice. When you thought you had given it all he somehow got more out of you. I was probably in the best shape of my life in 1975.
He was also a towering presence (both literally and figuratively) in the life at Aurora High School. I took PE from him. I learned to drive in Drivers Ed from him. I can still see him, in his plaid sport coat, standing at the intersection of hallways which led to the lunchroom at AHS playing “traffic cop” during the lunch hour.
It’s now been 48 years since that 1975 team. As I reflect over the arc of my life, I recall individuals who were mentors or leaders who impacted the direction of my life. Coach Holliday was one of those people. While we may have shared differing opinions on a number of issues, I greatly admired Bill for his character as well as his deep and abiding faith.
My sympathies to Kathy as well as Greg and Jeff and their families.
Peace be to his memory.
Warm regards,
Doug Person,
San Francisco, Calif.
