Roland Holder

A celebration of the life of Roland Holder will be held at noon on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at Rose-Neath's Southside Chapel, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, April 6th at the chapel. Services will be officiated by Reverend Lynn Mitchel. Interment will follow immediately at Forest Park West, Shreveport, Louisiana. Roland, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away on April 4, 2016. He was born on September 25, 1928, in Okolona, Arkansas, to Roland Payne Holder and Annie Delle White Holder. He was raised in Texarkana, Arkansas and moved to Shreveport, Louisiana in 1948, where he began his career in the wood flooring industry. On November 3, 1950, he married his wife of sixty-four years, Martha Ann Smith. Shortly after their marriage, Roland left to service his country and is an Army Veteran of the Korean War. In 1958, he founded Gentry & Holder Floors in Shreveport, which became an industry leader in the fabrication and installation of hardwood flooring for commercial sports arenas. Being an Arkansas native, one of his favorite accomplishments was Arkansas Razorback's Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Roland was dedicated to preserving the craft of his profession and was a founding member of the National Oak Flooring Association, where he was regarded as one of its most influential instructors from 1979 until 1990. In 1994, he was inducted into the National Wood Flooring Association Hall of Fame and in 2003, inducted into the Maple Flooring Manufacturing Association Hall of Fame. He is fondly remembered and quoted as saying, "The only shortcut you take in the flooring business is the route to the job site". Wood flooring was his career, but farming was in his blood, so in 1964, Roland bought a farm in Frierson, Louisiana, where he and Martha could give their children and grandchildren the opportunity to grow up working and enjoying the outdoors. Up until his death, he was still active in the daily activities of maintaining his farm and raising his cows. He loved his neighbors and was a friend to all, as witnessed by the gathering at his home each morning for the "Breakfast Club" meeting. Roland was a member of the Frierson Baptist Church, which he helped to rebuild after it was destroyed by a fire in the late sixties and was always there to help his community in any way he could. Roland is preceded in death by his wife, Martha Ann Smith Holder. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Holder McClure and son-in-law, Milton, son Lee Smith Holder and daughter-in-law, Rebecca, and son Reuben Paul Holder and daughter-in-law, Leslie. Sharing his memory are grandchildren John McClure, Carl McClure, Daniel McClure and wife, Alica, Heather Lovejoy, Jennifer Cox and husband Russell, Amy Dunn and husband, Kevin, Emily Canady and husband, Sam, Rory Bell, Tiffany Bell, Stephanie Vailes, Cole Echols, Bailey Holder, Hailey Mason and husband, Hunter, nephew Eric Hamelback, his wife, Debra and children Austen and Hannah. Roland was blessed to have eight great grandchildren. His life was also greatly enriched by the care, compassion and friendship of his long- time employee, Willie (Nickie) Bush. In lieu of flowers, donations to Fellowship of Christian Athletes at 3018 Old Minden Road, Suite 1121, Bossier City, LA 71112 will be appreciated.