On May 17, 2001, a random act of violence took the life of a popular music professor on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA.

It was twenty years ago today that James “Jim” Holloway, aged 40, was tragically gunned down in a random act of violence on the Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) campus in 2001. He and his wife, Judy Carr, had spent 17 glorious days in Hawaii that January, staying with the Crosiers for a week while he gave a hymn festival at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and workshop for the American Guild of Organists, then spending the rest of the time on the North Shore.

We were thoroughly entertained during their visit, and I still smile at his impressions of famous musicians and the many accents he could speak in (German, Russian, French, Southern, to name a few). There was lots of laughter around the dinner table when he was there. He and my husband, Carl, shared a love of cooking fine food— Jim cooked in our kitchen on this visit, and Carl made plans to cook in Jim’s on a future trip. He was an exceptionally fine musician, and could play music in many genres: Bach, as well as gospel and jazz.

We first met Jim at an ALCM (Association of Lutheran Church Musicians) conference in Tacoma, WA where he was the conference chair, which meant he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off! I actually played one of the conference services on the beautiful Fritts organ at Pacific Lutheran University where he was the organ professor, and he helped me schedule practice time on the instrument. Later in the week, I went to Jim’s workshop which was about musicians taking care of themselves. He had had a wake-up call when he experienced a medical emergency after doing the 40,000 things musicians do in their busy lives. I will never forget his quote, “Practicing is therapeutic — and it’s a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist!”

Carl had planned a trip to the Northwest in May 2001, and was even scheduled to stay with Jim Holloway the weekend he was killed. Of course, he quickly changed his plans at this news and stayed in a hotel, but was able to go to the memorial service on the PLU campus. Carl grieved tremendously for our friend. If you look at the plaque of the Beckerath continuo organ at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, you will see that we gave a memorial gift in memory of James Dale Holloway.

That year was my son’s senior year of high school, and we had already made plans for him to stay with Jim and Judy for a campus visit while he was applying to colleges. Obviously, we had to make alternative housing plans for his visit yet he ended up attending another college in the Northwest.

A couple of weeks ago, when I was going through all our CDs, most of which went to the University of Hawaii Music Department, I came across two copies of the CD that was produced in memory of Jim. Here is the tribute which was written by Richard Nance, formerly Associate Director of Choral Activities at PLU.

Jim Holloway was shot and killed when he was only forty years old. His beautiful life was taken by a madman in a millisecond. It’s funny how a death has to occur before appreciation is sometimes shown for people. But it was different with Jim Holloway, “Jimmy Dale” as he wanted to be called by those with whom he was close, was beloved every day. His students and colleagues thought the world of him and admired him greatly. Richard Nance, Jim’s choral colleague at Pacific Lutheran University, says, “He was the great genius (not just in the musical sense) I have ever known, and most of the people I know concur with that.” Once when Richard’s choir was singing for an evening prayer service, Jim was supposed to play the organ for the service. Jim was late, as he often was, because he was coming at the last second from yet another commitment, and all were wondering if he would even make it in time. Sure enough, the balcony door swung open in the nick of time and in swooped Jim, his usual sense of purpose on his face. He quickly made it to the organ bench, closed his eyes for. a moment, placed his elegant hands on the keys, and proceeded to play an amazingly beautiful prelude. The piece went on for five minutes or so, and was filled with soaring melodies and gorgeous harmonic treatment, with just a hint of 20th-century dissonance added to its neo-romantic foundation. It had perfect form, there were a plentitude of stop changes to color the sound, and watching him play it was very moving. Following the service, Richard asked Jim the name and composer of this piece he had played. He looked at Richard with his soulful eyes, and with a twinkle in them said, “I made it up!” Richard quickly told Jim he had to write it down—a piece that wonderful had to be made available to others, to which he said, “I don’t remember any of it.”

That story tells only a small example of Jim’s genius. He was an incredible scholar, with an insatiable appetite and curiosity of everything to be learned. His memory was encyclopedic, but he wasn’t like those annoying people who can just spout trivia at will. Jim’s knowledge was always fully informed and in depth, but he never pushed it on anyone just to show how much he knew. He was a humble and modest man, truly the least “surface” person you could imagine. He was an inspiring writer and a terrific speaker and preacher. Jim was a gourmet cook, a teller of great jokes, and a Southern Gentleman. The most important thing in life to Jim was being a father. He was devoted to God and his family.

There was unfortunately a Hawaii connection to the gunman who killed our friend Jim Holloway. Read the news accounts of the shooting here:

Seattle Times, “PLU Music Professor slain in campus shooting; suicidal gunman leaves 16-page note.“
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Music teacher killed in random shooting at PLU“

Here are some of the comments people have posted on Facebook today:

Randy Knutson We had friends whose daughter was at PLU at the time. They got and emergency phone call and so the mom left the next day from Fresno to drive up to get her (end of school, but not graduating yet). She stopped to visit us and tell us the news in person. I only met Jim a few times, but especially enjoyed time with him when he helped organize Lutheran Church Musicians conference at PLU.

Richard Nance It was a day I will never forget, and I still have a difficult time understanding to this day. Jim was so beloved, and so genuine about his care for everyone. I miss him so much, and think about him all the time.

Cooper Sherry From age 15, Jim is the person who became a musical parent to me, showed me the ropes, somehow convinced PLU to admit me despite my high school grades, and then supplied me with mentorship as a staff intern at Trinity. He will always be one of my best friends and most powerful sources of who I am in my small universe.

David P Dahl What a major talent, Jimmy Dale. HE was a great friend and colleague, and I truly miss him.

David Oakley Ruberg A colleague phoned with the news. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t.

Nancy Vancil I was in Eastvold, and heard the shots. It was remarkable to witness the quick response, the gatherings of people to honor Jim and to nurture healing. They were truly worthy of this kind, loving, and brilliant man. Yes, we miss him greatly.

Lorin Wingate It’s a day I will never forget. Susy and I loved Jim (he will always be Jimmy Dale to us!) dearly, especially with our shared Southern roots. Very few days go by that I don’t think of him. He’s the source of one of my favorite sayings (“I hate to lick all the red off your candy, but…”), and forever in my heart, I will hear him saying to me, “You know why I love you? I love you ’cause you’re a good person.” I hope I deserved his love.

Gloria Moore That will remain one of the saddest days of my life. He was such an amazing man and an inspiration to everyone who knew him!

Whitney Dolman A day I will never forget as a student on campus that horrendous day. I didn’t have him directly as a professor, but he judged a lot of my recital juries and teaching demonstrations in the music education dept. Rest In Peace, Dr. Holloway.

Cindy Melson Harris Beautiful and heartbreaking to read these tributes to Jim. I loved him and had known him through our time together with Choral Arts. What an incredible talent, but mostly, he had a huge heart. Twenty years have flown by since that tragic day. What a lovely legacy he has left behind.

Siri Flesher Preston I remember him, especially, when I sing for church. Before chorale sang for chapel, he would tell us “God is your only audience”

Erik Whitehill He was such a good man. Such a beautiful heart. Such a wonderful minister of music.

Joel Martinson… May 17th brings immediate thoughts of Jim’s horrible death at the hands of that madman. I was in Astoria, Oregon, that night practicing for a tenth anniversary recital for the organ at First Lutheran Church. All my family was flying or driving to Astoria, and Jim was going to drive down that Sunday and surprise me. The grandson of my hosts came up the hill from the church where the church council had heard that a faculty member at PLU had been shot. Somehow I knew that it was Jim. Even 20 years later, I can’t believe that he is not a phone call away. I loved him dearly and we had several great years together and many more as friends.

Merianne Bigler Jordan I vividly remember Jim walking with me to class on East Campus twice a week for an entire semester. It wasn’t a particularly safe walk back then and for some reason there weren’t a lot of other students around when I was walking to that class. We had great talks and I really cherished that one on one time. It was near the end of the semester when I noticed him walking back to the main campus from my classroom window and realized he wasn’t teaching a class on East Campus.

Jenean Holloway Carlton Thank you all for loving him, and know he loved you all as well. Your words are very touching for me and bring me peace on this difficult day. Jimmy was two years older than me and was always an inspiration in my life.We had a very long phone call the night before his death and he was speaking with me about accepting the grace God had given me to handle a very difficult situation with our grandmother, who was hospitalized at the time.Jimmy was a great musician at a very young age. I can’t remember a time, as children, when he was learning how to play piano. He just always seemed to know how to play from my earliest memories. Our mother was a pianist, as was our aunt, and music was a big part of our lives.I’m finally in a place where my grief doesn’t overshadow the gift of him and all he was to me, our family, and so many friends. I’ll always be so proud of him and the person he was. He loved deeply and was so much fun.Interestingly, our daughter Mia reminds me so much of him. She is a great musician, loves the Lord and has his same drive for academics. Somehow, I think he knows about her and I can’t explain it, but they are very similar people. He would adore her and she would feel the same. God bless you all.

Thank you for loving my brother and keeping his memory alive.