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Team Before Self:
Remembering

Major Don Holleder ‘52

portrait of Major Don Holleder ’52 – proudly placed in
A the hallway outside of Aquinas’ Alumni Offi ce – is for
many students here, a portrait that is larger than life. For those
who pass by it each and every day, it is a reminder of Major
Holleder’s life and legacy, which his daughter Katie Fellows
described as a legacy of “self-sacrifi ce, courage, valor, honor,
and above all else, team before self.”

Maj. Don Holleder
Th roughout his life, team was a recurring theme that drove the battle site to rescue surviving members of his commanding
his actions and fueled his success. He was a man who made unit. It would be his fi nal sacrifi ce and his fi nal lesson of what it
Bob D’Ettore ’73 accepts a service award from Principal Ted Mancini ’88 a name for himself everywhere he was connected to. As a
and President Mike Daley ’79 at the faculty awards breakfast in June. standout on the Aquinas football fi eld, Holleder caught the means to put team before self.
Bob began his 41st year of teaching at Aquinas this school year.
eye of colleges from across the country that wanted to add Fift y years later, on the anniversary of his death, Holleder’s
him to their rosters and in fact, he was off ered 81 full-tuition daughter Katie addressed a packed Aquinas auditorium fi lled
scholarships. Ultimately though, he chose Th e United States with students, employees, and some of Holleder’s classmates
Military Academy at West Point where he played for Colonel and teammates. “My father was always true to himself, to his
“Red” Blaik. ideals and all that he did and ultimately, that is how he died,”
she said. “If you young men and women take anything away
In his junior year in 1954, from today, remember that strength of character allowed my
Holleder played in seven father to excel at everything he did and it will serve you well in
games, caught 17 passes for the future.”
495 yards, and scored fi ve
touchdowns earning himself On that cold, sunny October morning, ceremony participants
a spot on the All-American were led in a solemn bagpipe procession out to the front lawn
team as an end. When senior where a fl ag that had previously fl own over the United States
year rolled around, West Point Capitol on what would have been Maj. Don Holleder’s 83rd
was without a quarterback and birthday, was raised.
as legend has it, Coach Blaik
was unsure if he could teach a
Don Holleder ’52 playing high school football. Jacob Schwab, a senior at Aquinas remarked, “He’s not only
quarterback to be a leader so an Aquinas alumni, but he’s an American hero and he’s a role
instead, he found a leader that he could teach to be quarterback. model to Aquinas students. I think it’s really amazing to see that
Th at leader was Don Holleder. we’re remembering his legacy aft er 50 years.” Th e life and legacy
of Maj. Holleder has even more signifi cance for Schwab, who
Aft er earning All-American aspires to be like him one day with plans to serve the United
honors the year before, Holleder States Army as an infantry offi cer.
knew that by making the move
to quarterback, he would be Since his death, Major Holleder has been inducted in the
giving up the accolades he was so Aquinas Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, has
accustomed to. What he managed had arenas and stadiums at both of his alma maters – Aquinas
to accomplish that season though, and West Point –
was nothing short of amazing. renamed in his honor,
He led West Point to fi nish with has been awarded the
a 6-3 season, which included an Distinguished Service
upset over rival, Navy – a win that Cross, and has had an
landed Holleder on the cover of award created in his
Sports Illustrated. The cover of Sports Illustrated featuring Don memory. Th e Black
Holleder after his West Point vs. Navy win
Lion Award, while
Aft er college, it seemed that a career in professional football given to a football
would naturally follow as Vince Lombardi, off ensive player, is not awarded
coordinator for the New York Giants at the time, tried to recruit for athletic ability or
Holleder to play for the NFL. Holleder had other plans though, accomplishments – it is
“he wanted to fulfi ll his commitment and lifelong dream to awarded to those who
become an army offi cer,” said his daughter Katie. And like exemplify the character
everything else he did in life, Don excelled at that as well. In of Don Holleder, which
just ten years, he rose to the ranks of Major, had served posts shone in all aspects of
across the U.S. and Korea, and eventually requested to be sent his life: “leadership,
to Vietnam, where he became the Operations Offi cer for 1st courage, devotion to
Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division. duty, self-sacrifi ce, and Holleder’s daughter, Katie Fellows, and West Point roommate
above all, an unselfi sh Jerry Amlong stand in front of the portrait of Holleder that
On October 17, 1967, during the Battle of Ong Th anh, Major concern for the team hangs in the hallway of Aquinas Institute.
Don Holleder was gunned down by a sniper as he rushed to ahead of himself.”
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