Dutch Holland

Winford Everett “Dutch” Holland died on Wednesday, the 3rd of September 2014, six weeks before his 78th birthday. He passed away peacefully with family and friends at Memorial Hermann hospital. Dutch was born on the 14th of October 1936 in Satin, Texas; the only child of Everett Ransom Holland and Odessa Wittner Holland. He grew up on the family farm in central Texas.

Dutch had a rich and distinguished life of service in both the United States Air Force and academia. He attended Baylor University where he served as student commander of AFROTC and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics. From there he began his adult life as a pilot in the USAF and by the year 1967, he had risen to become Commander of a Strategic Air Combat crew, receiving numerous honors and distinctions on the way, as well as receiving his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. It was during his studies at the University of Dayton that his professor told Dutch of his unique ability to take complex problems and describe them in simple, understandable terms and that he should teach in a university.

Dutch left military service and pursued his Doctorate of Philosophy in Management, Statistics, and Operational Research from the University of Texas at Austin. After receiving his PhD, he joined the faculty of the University of Houston business school as a professor of Organizational Behavior and Management and served as the Director of UH’s Center for Management Research and Analysis (CEMSA) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center…his dream job.

Along with teaching full-time in 1973, Dutch began a consulting business with fellow professors that evolved into Holland & Davis, LLC, where he served as Chairman and CEO until 2009. During those years Dutch was able to provide consulting services, coaching, mentoring, and guidance to hundreds of business leaders in Houston and the United States. Over the course of his life, Dutch published more than 16 books and 150 articles on various topics, but his passion was always about change management in organizations.

Besides his passion for work, Dutch loved salmon and fly-fishing and had the opportunity to hone his skills outside of Campbell River, BC; Crested Butte, Colorado; and Round Top, Texas. He was a casual, friendly, and charming guy who would often be seen in his favorite Hawaiian shirt at the local eateries in those areas. The family believes that Dutch would enjoy seeing his friends in Hawaiian or casual shirts at his celebration services.

Dutch was an active member of River Oaks Baptist Church, and served as a deacon and member of various church committees. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of River Oaks Baptist School.

Dutch is survived by his wife, Jan; his four children, Eric Holland, Wendy Robinson, Hope Holland, and Win Holland; his son-in-law, David “Bear” Robinson; and his grandsons, Everett Holland, and David and Dean Robinson.

A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock this afternoon, Saturday, the 6th of September 2014 in the sanctuary of River Oaks Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martus Miley, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in commons dining of River Oaks Baptist Church.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77210-4486.