Honoring Tom Holman

Albany Democrat Herald,
Monday, Nov. 21, 2016

"WAHS Honors Longtime Educator with  'Tom Holman Court''.

Tom Holman watched a video about his accomplishments while seated next
to his wife Lois Holman during a court dedication ceremony at West
Albany High School on Sunday.  Tom Holman became head basketball coach
at Albany Union High School in 1954, and later became the principal and
mayor of Albany.

Mr. Holman was born in Baker City and played several sports as a youth. 
"It sounded like there wasn't anything Tom wasn't good at," Susie
Orsborn West Albany principal said.  OSC offered him a scholarship to
play either football or basketball, and Holman joined Slats Gill's
basketball squad in Corvallis.  After his first year of college
basketball he served in the U. S. Army and fought in the Battle of the
Bulge during WWII, earning the Silver Star.  Tom then returned to
Oregon, met his wife and got married. Slats Gill wrote him a letter
saying his scholarship was good for four years and he needed to come
back to OSC.  Mr. Holman was part of the first team that played in Gill
Coliseum and the Beavers made it to the Final Four in 1949.  But Tom was
best known in Albany for an accomplished career as an educator and
coach, and for serving as Albany's mayor in the mid-1980's.

On Sunday afternoon, West Albany High School honored the 93-year-old by
renaming its gymnasium floor 'Tom Holman Court'.  "Thank you so much. 
This is amazing," Holman said.  "I've had a great career here in
Albany.  I am very appreciative of this honor.  This day is something
else," he added.  The event started, fittingly enough, with about an
hour of basketball exhibitions by youth and high school players. 
Attendees watched as children and teens dribbled basketballs, sneakers
squeaking as they cut to the hoop.

Several of Holman's family members attended the event, including his
bride of 70 years, Lois.  Attending were former players and students
from all classes, with the Class of 1960 well represented with 11.  All
totaled about 300 people attended the celebration and Mr. Holman
received a standing ovation when his signature, alongside silver stars,
was unveiled on the hardwood.  "He's a wealth of knowledge and a forever
legend of this high school and Albany," said Susie Orsborn.

Ardys Hedy-Bash, part of the AUHS class of 1961, said that her late
husband, Duane Hedy worked with Tom Holman for many years. "I think this
is just wonderful," she said.  "I don't know of anybody who would be
more deserving."  WELL DONE BULLDOGS!!!!