The daughters of Robert L. Hollar ’41 wanted to honor their father last year on what would have been his 100th birthday.
The perfect gift, they decided, would be $5,000 to The Manchester Fund.
Carolyn Hollar Palmer of Carmel, Ind., and Connie Hollar McLaren of Terre Haute, Ind., didn’t go to Manchester, but they heard stories about it from their dad, a proud graduate.
“Dad was raised in New Paris, Ind., the youngest of six, during the height of the Great Depression,” say Carolyn and Connie. When he enrolled at Manchester his mother came, too, to run a boarding house that would help pay for Bob’s education.
“At one point, the family was in severe financial straits and Manchester loaned him $500 with a note that said, ‘repayable as you are able.’ Dad never forgot this generosity and the faith Manchester demonstrated in his future,” say his daughters. “Long after he repaid the note, he continued his financial support to honor the investment Manchester had made in him.”
As a student, Bob Hollar played football and basketball, and belonged to the Commerce Club and Future Teachers of America. After graduation, he taught and coached before enlisting in the military and serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
After the war, Hollar taught at Hanover College, New Paris High School and eventually at what would become Indiana State University. He retired as professor and associate dean of the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at ISU.
His daughters describe their dad as a “lifelong teacher, coach, mentor and leader” who was “always a faithful Manchester alumnus.”
They designated their memorial gift for The Manchester Fund because, they say, the fund supports Manchester’s greatest needs. And people at Manchester were there for their dad when he needed them most.
Melinda Lantz ’81