Jack Holden is SJMC's first Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

Photo by Patrick Kelley ('04) John E. "Jack" Holden ('48)

John E. "Jack" Holden ('48) has been named the first recipient of the SJMC's Distinguished Alumni Award. The award was established by Doug Looney ('63) and his wife, Mary Ann Looney, to honor one graduate of the School each year.

Holden will be honored at the May 8 commencement ceremony. His portrait will be on display in the Armory to remind students of the legacies the School's distinguished alums have left.

In addition to being a University of Colorado Foundation Trustee and serving on the SJMC Advisory Board for seven years, Holden has generously created several endowed funds that support diversity, faculty training and an annual lecture. Jack and his wife, Marguerite "Peggy" Holden, have also funded several renovations to the School, including the updating of the lobby area of the Armory.

"Jack is a loyal, generous friend of the School who has supported virtually every aspect of the School's life over the years. We are thrilled to honor him as the inaugural member of what will become an SJMC alumni hall of fame," said Dean Paul Voakes.

Holden, a Kansas native, started his college career at the University of Kansas, but he joined the Navy and was sent to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and later to a Harvard University short course in business. He returned to CU to finish his degree and in 1948 joined his father's newspaper, the Loveland Reporter-Herald as an ad salesman and manager.

He eventually became publisher of the paper and in 1970 sold it to Ed and the late Ruth Lehman. The Holdens moved to Denver where Jack developed a second career at the Health Education and Welfare department and later as the regional director of business affairs at the General Services Administration. He retired from the GSA in 1987.

The Holden Journalism Lecture has brought to campus NBC News Correspondent Tom Costello ('87), Chuck Porter of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, investigative journalist James B. Steele and NBC News Correspondent Kevin Corke ('88, MA '02).

The Holdens have two daughters, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.