Richard Adrian Holman

Richard Adrian Holman born to Lyle Adrian Holman and Margaret Smith Holman January 2, 1937 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Richard, with his family, moved to New mexico in 1949 settling in Las Cruces. Graduating from Las Cruces High School in 1955, He received a BA in Sociology from New Mexico State University. Continuing his education at the University of Oregon receiving a BA in Architecture and an advanced degree in Interior Architecture. In 1967 his career took him to New York City as an associate of the J.C. Penney Company, Inc. where he was in charge of the Interior Design Department. His responsibilities entailed specifying the interior design of the J.C. Penney Company stores at the time when J.C. Penney was building an abundant number of stores throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico in the 60's and all through the 70's. He had the opportunity to meet James Cash Penney, 95 years of age, a friendly and gracious man. Mr. Penney's legacy to retailing were many but his most important, he wanted to call his employees "associate" as they shared in the profit of the company. In 1988 the Penney's Corporate Office moved to Plano, TX, now called the Home Office built on a campus like setting in a magnificent state of the art building. At the time of moving to Plano, he married his friend and soul mate of 25 years, Kay Titus. Richard retired from J.C. Penney after 34 years of service. He had nothing but praise for his career and J.C. Penny. In 1977 he returned to Las Cruces and in 2000 he bought a winter home in Palm Springs, CA as he often referred to it as his winter paradise. He summered in his Las Cruces home. In 2010, he sold his Palm Springs home and returned to Las Cruces to be permanently "rooted" in Las Cruces, renewing childhood friendships as well as making new friends. Richard as a teenager was a De Molay achieving the highest chair as Master Counselor. His beloved Welsh terriers Tali I of 13 years and Tali II of 12 years, both were never apart from him. When he traveled they were always with him. A life long Episcopalian, while living in Las Cruces in his earlier years he was active in his church, Saint James Episcopal Church in Mesilla Park, a parishioner since 1949. Through the years he made life time friends and neighbors which he considered his family and one special friend of many years, a fellow Oklahoman, Kevin Ragland, of Los Angeles, CA. He was close to his cousins on his mother's side: Dr. Charles and Beverly Bollman of Asprey, FL and on his father's side: Mr. James and Jacque Benham of Carl Junction, Missouri, and a very special cousin Margaret Shoots, deceased, of Columbus, KS. Also close were childhood friends Jo Ann Searcy of Albuquerque, and Sandra Heath of Las Cruces. Richard was always grateful for his career, homes and friends. He was truly blessed. Preceded in his death was his beloved wife, Kay Holman. His ashes will be placed in the columbarium in Saint James in the niche along side of his brother William Lyle Holman, mother Margaret Frances Holman, and his wife Kay Holman. Dick wanted you to know of his death, and of the love he had for you throughout the years of your friendship. PDF Printable Version