Holder, Jimmie

Biography:

Jimmie Holder was born and raised in Mart, TX east of Waco where he attended and graduated from Mart High School in 1949. He was involved in 4-H, FFA, and showing steers. He began classes at Texas A&M University in 1949, pursuing a degree in Animal Husbandry, but he later changed his major to Agricultural Economics. He was a member of Squadron 2 in the Corps of Cadets. He was the commanding officer of his squadron during his senior year, which allowed him to make one of his favorite memories of hearing his name announced over the loud speaker during the Corps march in to Kyle Field before football games.

After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1953, Mr. Holder entered the Air Force wanting to be a pilot, but instead he became a navigator. After completing navigation school at the top of his class, he went to Waco, TX to be a navigation instructor. Once his time in the military was completed in 1956, he returned to Texas A&M for his graduate degree in Agricultural Economics. After gathering research about the acceptance of pre-packaged meat, Mr. Holder decided he was more of a “people person” and research was not his passion. With encouragement from a former professor, Dr. R.J. Hildreth, he accepted a position with 1st National Bank of Fort Worth. After he held bank jobs in several parts of Texas, he spent 3 years in Temple, TX working at Texas National Bank. Here, Holder realized that he was ready to work his way up the cooperate ladder, which prompted his move to the 1st National Bank in Lubbock in 1966. He eventually worked his way up to become the Executive Vice-President of the bank. When the bank was sold to Wells Fargo, he went to work for Lubbock National Bank. Mr. Holder returned to College Station when he attempted to retire in 1996, but he soon was tasked with overseeing the startup of a College Station branch of Commerce National Bank. He worked as the Vice President of the bank for a little less than two years before officially retiring in 2000.

Along with being a well-known banker, Mr. Holder was very active in the Lubbock community. He served on the Board of Water Incorporated, looking at feasible ways of bringing water from the Mississippi River to the Lubbock area. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Highland Orthopedic Hospital, the president of the Lubbock chapter of the American Heart Association, and active in the Children’s Miracle Network. He was a proud president of the Lubbock A&M Club and the president of the Lubbock Club. He was also recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow in the Lubbock Rotary Club, which is the highest level of recognition you can receive from your peers. While in Temple, Mr. Holder was recognized as the Outstanding Young Man of Temple in 1965.

Mr. Holder married his high school sweetheart, Billie Holder in 1953. When she passed away in 2008, she was the first Aggie Mom to be buried in the Aggie Field of Honor. Together, they raised three children, Lanie ’78, Larry ’83, and Jamie ’86. He now has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. All together, the Holder family has 13 Aggie rings and counting. Mr. Holder is currently a member of the A&M Methodist Church. He also funds the Billie H. and Jimmie R. Holder Scholarship to help support an Agricultural Economics major, preferably a member of the Corps of Cadet Squadron 2 or Air Force Corps member. Mr. Holder currently resides in College Station, TX.

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