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Cameron Hilding ""Kip"" Holmes

1949 - 2013

Cameron Hilding ""Kip"" Holmes obituary, 1949-2013

BORN

1949

DIED

2013

Cameron Holmes Obituary

Kip Holmes, 64, passed away on September 29, 2013, surrounded by family. Kip was born to Clifford and Ruth Holmes on July 9, 1949, in Grand Junction, Colorado. He grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and he graduated from Cate School in 1967 and from Harvard University in 1970. While working a summer job, Kip met his wife of forty-two years, Julie Doane of Astoria, Oregon. Kip and Julie were married in Portland, Oregon in August 1971. Kip was a police officer in Portland while Julie attended graduate school and began her social work career. In 1974, they moved to Washington, D.C., where Kip graduated from Georgetown University Law Center.
In 1977, Kip and Julie moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they started a family and Kip began a career as a prosecutor that spanned four decades. He began with the Joint Legislative Task Force on Organized Crime, and then moved to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office Organized Crime and Racketeering Unit. In 1981, Kip joined the Arizona Attorney General's Office, starting with the Organized Crime Project. He served as Chief of the Financial Remedies Section from 1987 to 2008, and thereafter as Senior Litigation Counsel and consultant. In 2010, Kip became the Director of the Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering Alliance, the result of a multimillion dollar settlement designed to combat money laundering associated with drug and human smuggling. He was the founding member and Chair of the Arizona Forefeiture Association, and he organized an annual Southwest Border Money Laundering Conference. Kip received the Distinguished Public Lawyer Award in 2005 and the Arizona Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Kip was a leading and unwavering authority on money laundering and asset forfeiture in Arizona and nationwide. He devoted his career to protecting the public from financial fraud and racketeering. Kip authored Arizona forfeiture law, spoke on forfeiture and money laundering in twenty-nine states and internationally, and served as Associate Counsel to the Senate Iran-Contra Committee in 1987. Kip gathered and led interdisciplinary teams that were responsible for the seizure of over $100 million returned to fraud victims. Kip combined the investigative tenacity of a police officer with a brilliant and creative legal mind. He collaborated with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Phoenix Police Department through the Arizona Financial Crimes Task Force, and he mentored public lawyers and law enforement personnel at every level.
Kip was a loving husband to his wife Julie and loving father to his children Ryan and wife Rupali of Phoenix, Colin of Washington, D.C., and Lauren and husband Nick of New Haven, Connecticut. In addition, he was intrigued by design and how he could make things work better. Kip enjoyed working on his car and inventing everyday equipment. He even developed and designed a beach house, including elaborate water supply and filtering systems. Kip also loved hiking the Arizona wilderness.
Kip is survived by his wife, children, parents of Bartlesville and siblings Alexander of Norman, Oklahoma, Sven of Washington, D.C., Hugh of Hong Kong, Kurt of North Stonington, Connecticut, Madeline of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Alison of Arcata, California, and their families.

Published by Examiner-Enterprise from Oct. 6 to Nov. 5, 2013.
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Kip recruited me to join the Arizona Attorney General's Office in October 2004. We had been associates in law enforcement beginning in 1995. He was my boss, my mentor, my friend, and my inspiration for almost nine years. By my count, we had lunch together almost 2,100 times, during which we talked about almost everything under the sun, to include our fascinating and demanding profession as civil racketeering prosecutors(of course), his beloved family, and his and Julie's Oregon beach house (a wonder of personal innovations). We laughed, we argued, and we conspired. After his many successes in bringing major institutional money launderers to their knees, he created the Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering Alliance, funded by his $96 million settlement with Western Union. While he worked only 14-16 hours a day, seven days a week, his head was in the game 24/7/365. He faced impending death with the same intellect, energy, and resolve with which he faced life. He was strong to the end, offering to me encouraging words, even until the night before he died. I often hear his voice in my head, responding as he did when I would call him on the phone - "MISTER Mahon", as if to ask "And what foolishness are you up to today?" I lost my brother Doug to cancer in May 2012. I lost my brother Kip to cancer in September 2013. The memories of both shall continue to inspire me until I, too, am dust.

Alex Mahon

June 13, 2014

Kip was a true gentleman and a scholar. He once commented to me that I had served as a speaker or panelist at his professional conference in Scottsdale more so than any other participant. I reminded him that only HE could drag me out to the Arizona desert every June. I loved seeing him arrive in his Texas-style pick-up truck---suit and tie, and his cowboy boots! He will be missed. Although I never met his family, he spoke of all of you often. May God bless.

Oscar Herasme

October 25, 2013

We are saddened to hear about Kip's passing. His dedication to profession and industry leaves a legacy of the most constructive and beneficial consequences. Our condolences go to his family as, the loss is heartfelt throughout the industry.

Augustine E. Salazar

October 20, 2013

Kip was an Institution and a great Friend, I will miss Kip!!

Alejandro Urtiz

October 19, 2013

After many years "knowing" Kip I met him at IMTC West where he made a presentation sharing his views and opinions about the US-Mexico Border. A brave, opinionated, passionate man - and even if we didn't agree on many things - I had a lot of respect for his work, his dedication and tireless pursuit of his goals.
My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.

Hugo Cuevas-Mohr

October 19, 2013

Hugo Cuevas-Mohr

October 19, 2013

I am so very sorry to hear of Kip's passing. We trust your memories will help you find peace after losing this fine man.

Muriel Faust

October 18, 2013

Thoughts and prayers to all of the Holmes'. Extremely sorry for your loss.

Sue Freiberger

October 13, 2013

I had the privilege of working with Kip in the early and mid-1990s in Washington, DC. We worked to develop training for prosecutors and law enforcement. Kip was tireless and brilliant! It was always a pleasure to work with him, and he could be counted on to write entire outlines or fact patterns in an evening. He brought a wealth of experience to the projects. He had such wit and insights. I will miss him.

My thoughts are with you all. Kip was very proud of his family, and spoke well of all of you.

Merri Hankins

October 11, 2013

Kip was the best, the brightest and the most dedicated and thoroughly effective criminal prosecutor it was ever my privilege to know and work with in my 36 years in Arizona law enforcement. I am grateful that I was present at the funeral services for David Baize and heard Kip pay eloquent tribute. I didn't know it would be the last time I would see and talk with Kip. I greatly admired his creative, tireless and thorough approach on every case I assisted with during his time at the County Attorney's Office and then at the AG. He invited input. He treated investigators with respect. He was very demanding and set such a high standard. It was most rewarding to be involved with him in the investigative and prosecutive process of any complex investigation. My wife Linda joins in expressing our condolence to Kip's wife and family.

Terry Chapman

October 9, 2013

Kip Was An Honorable Man. I Felt honored To Have WorKed With Him For Almost 30 Years

sheila johns

October 4, 2013

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