JESSE BENJAMIN HOLLIS, JR.,

was born in Hollis, Oklahoma, on 8 June 1917.

The son of Doctor Jesse B. and Maureen Abigail Hollis, Jesse, or J.B. as he was known, grew up in Mangum, a ranching and farming town in southwest Oklahoma. He graduated from Mangum High School as captain of the football team and then attended Kemper Military School where he graduated with honors and also was captain of the football team.

J.B. entered West Point with the Class of 1941 but was turned back to the Class of 1943 after a year at the University of Oklahoma.

J.B.s athletic ability and maturity, gained from his year at Oklahoma, served him well during his cadet years. An excellent athlete, he earned his Numerals Plebe year and a Minor on the varsity wrestling team his final three years. He made the track team his yearling year.  J.B. also competed in varsity football on the Squad and served as an Assistant Coach.

J.B. was a natural leader and wise counselor. He never said much but when he did, people just naturally listened. A charter member of a band of fun-loving classmates known as The Buddies, J.B. was always ready rat races, weekend bull sessions, or what have you. As he used to say, I can get ready for staying ready, a seeming jest which later proved to be one of the hallmarks of his successful Army and civilian careers. J.B. was always ready ready to serve his country, his friends, and all those with whom he worked. As a cadet, he was affectionately known as The Deacon because he voluntarily taught a Sunday School at the Protestant Chapel.

J.B. selected Field Artillery and graduated in the upper half of his class. For him and his classmates this was the start of a great adventure; they were graduating into their chosen profession and into a world at war. J.B. later said in the 10-Year Book that he

Reported to Fort Sill February 43 and spent 3 months trying to locate the block house on Signal Mountain and trying to keep Wood, Fiss, and Cobb out of trouble not much success.

After Sill, he was assigned to the 331st FA Bn, 86th Infantry Division, at Camp Howze, Texas. J.B. was soon placed in command of a battery and stayed with the Black Hawksthrough the Louisiana Winter Maneuvers in 43, Marine Amphibious training in California Winter 44, the European Campaign 44-45 (during which he won the Bronze Star Medal with ), and finally the Philippine Campaign August 45.

After VJ Day, J.B. transferred to the G-3 Section, GHQ, AFPAC in Manila and then on to Tokyo for the big picture, as he termed it. He served with AFPAC from 1945 to 1947. J.B. met Jeannie in 1946 and they were married on 19 May 1947. In 1947, J.B. joined the G-4 Section of Headquarters, Mariana-Bonins Command, on Guam, where he served until mid 1948.

Upon return to the U.S., daughter Sharon Ann was born in Mangum, Oklahoma, on 25 July 1948. J.B. was then posted to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, first as battalion executive officer, and later as commanding officer of an artillery battalion. The Hollis family lived in picturesque Carmel but soon moved to Fort Sill for Advanced Course 49-50.

J.B. was then selected to serve in the Office of Physical Education at West Point. He attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, from 1950 - 1951 to earn his masters degree in physical education. J.B. served in the Department of Physical Education from 1951-1954, and, in conjunction with his friend Bob Evans 42, effectively ran the physical education program at the Academy.

In 1954, J.B., Jeannie, and Sharon Ann moved to Germany where J.B. commanded the 775th Field Artillery Battalion at Schwabisch Hall, later moving to the post of Executive Officer, G-4 VII Corps, Stuttgart.

In 1958, J.B. was assigned to the Artillery School at Fort Sill. Then on to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where he served as Executive Officer in the Office of the Inspector General and later as Executive Officer, G-1 Section, Headquarters, V Region. J.B. was then posted to HQ North American Air Defense Command at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado, as Executive Officer, G-1, until April 1963 when he was posted to Iran for a year as an advisor to the Iranian Army.

In 1965, J.B. attended the Army War College, and was then posted to the Artillery School at Fort Sill, where he served as Chief of the Non-Resident Instruction Department from 1966 until his retirement for physical disability in February 1971. At Fort Sill, Sharon Ann developed her skills in horsemanship and later traveled to England to earn the Horsemanship title from the British Horse Society. She returned from England to show hunters and jumpers nationwide until her untimely death in an automobile accident in 1969.

After J.B.s retirement in 1971, the Hollises moved to Dodson, Texas, to run the Hollis Ranches and raise registered Herefords. In memory of Sharon Ann, they established several national horse show awards, to include the coveted Shari Hollis Memorial Trophy at the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, DC. Both J.B. and Jeannie remained active in international horse show activities. Jeannie currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and as a Vice President of the Washington International Horse Show.

J.B. retired from active ranching in 1988 and bought a beautiful home in Norman, Oklahoma, not far from the campus of the University of Oklahoma where he remained active in intercollegiate affairs, to include counseling OU football players.

To quote J.B. in the Jan 43 50th Anniversary Year Book, now was the time for retirement and reflection.  J.B. and Jeannie enjoyed living in their new home in Norman and trips to horse shows throughout the country.

Unfortunately, J.B. was diagnosed with cancer in 1990. After a long and valiant battle, J.B. was taken from us on 17 July 1995.

Jeannie and a circle of friends said good-bye to J.B. at the Fort Sill Cemetery on 20 July 1995. He was buried next to Shari with full military honors befitting a great soldier who had served his country for so long and with such distinction.

Farewell, old friend. We shall miss you. You will be remembered always as a consummate military man and leader, as a caring and loving husband and father, as a thoughtful and wise counselor, and for all of us as the best of kind and considerate friends.

Family, friends, and classmates Submitted by: Fred Alexander, 5/13/2005

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