Not all of us can be celebrated for being a success at life. Life's a struggle. If you were lucky you met Charles Holland to help you cope along the way.

Air Force Colonel, Eagle Scout, Master Mason Charles William Holland, age 80, passed away Dec. 12, 2022 in Fort Worth. He was a lifelong advocate for friends and family members and a loving caregiver, family and marriage counselor and therapist to thousands.

He helped folks cope with life.

"Chuck" was born in Paducah, Texas, Jan. 7, 1942 to Thomas Lee (T.L.) Holland Jr. and Dorothy Mae Pratt Holland. Throughout his life he could take you back to Paducah, show you the old hospital building, and tell you how his dad traded an old saddle for his birth doctor's invoice.

Chuck is survived by his wife Judy, and sons Carter and Weston. The family embraced his love, spirit and wisdom.

He was a graduate of Floydada High School, Floydada, Texas in May of 1960, where he was president of his senior class and a student council representative. He also played football, basketball, golf and ran track.

Chuck and his siblings were products of an insightful father. T.L. always told the story of his after high school experience. "I got an offer to play football at Hardin-Simmons University," T.L. said. "But it was The Depression. My father said you have to get a job."

So Chuck's father sat the three sons down and said, "One, you are going to be an Eagle Scout. Two, you are going to graduate from college."

Many years later that Eagle Scout directive led to the T.L. and Dorothy Eagle Scout Scholarship Award presented to all Floydada Eagle Scouts.  

Chuck's father went another step, and all three sons were selected for American Legion's Texas Boys State in Austin, a summer institution for high school students, teaching them about the operation of local, county and state government.

At Baylor University in Waco he earned his B.A. with a double major in psychology and religion, graduating in 1965. While at Baylor he participated in R.O.T.C. and was commissioned into the Air Force as a 2nd Lt.

Chuck's next years were filled with Air Force duty and education.

-- He took Master's psychology classes at Texas Tech.

-- Left for Aircraft Maintenance School at Chanute AFB, Illinois.

-- Spent his first Air Force assignment at MacDill AFB, Florida.

-- Exited active duty to attend classes at Southern Seminary in Louisville where he joined the Kentucky Air National Guard.

-- Moved to Fort Worth where he joined the Texas Air National Guard and finished his Master's Degree in Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This is where he met Judy.

Chuck was certified as a Transactional Analyst and Innovation Catalyst. In the military he was a graduate of Squadron Officer School and Air War College. His Texas Air National Guard duty took him all over the world with work in Germany, Spain and Panama.

While on active duty at MacDill AFB, Chuck was selected Volunteer of The Year, for his church work and volunteer as a Big Brother. From time to time he would work as a "sight guide" for blind golfers.

In his final Pentagon assignment he worked on a project for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service called Operation Mongoose, which was a fraud prevention unit. He was sent to Puerto Rico to validate retirees' credentials.

His Boy Scout adventures took him to the 1957 National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, attended by 50,000 other scouts. He also participated in summer Aquatic School and in Order of The Arrow.

Even long after high school graduation Chuck organized a yearly camp out for his buddies from those school days in Floydada. His classmates will gather again this spring.

Chuck is also survived by his brother Rick and wife Amy of Pantego, Texas. Brother David R. Holland lives in Fort Worth and Weston, Colorado. Nephews are Chris and wife Kelly Holland of Keller (grand nephew Landon), and nephew Todd Holland and partner Jim Gallagher of San Francisco.

A celebration of life was held for Chuck and 140 came to remember a very full and successful 80 years. They all met on his 81st birthday.

Happy Trails to a winner at life. 

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