David Elmer Holloway

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

David Elmer Holloway, 88, of Murfreesboro, Arkansas, known to generations simply as "Coach," went to be with his Lord on November 2, 2025. When called Mr. Holloway, he would gently correct with a smile: "Mr. Holloway was my dad. I'm just Coach." A man of quiet strength and unwavering faith, Dave's life was a testament to the power of humble service, dedicated love, and the profound impact one person can have on a community.

Born to Leonard Ezekiel and Helen Bell Holloway on June 13, 1937, in Wagoner, Oklahoma, Dave's journey took him from the oil fields and sawmills of his youth to become one of Arkansas's most respected educators and coaches. Yet those who knew him best understood that his greatest achievements weren't measured in championships or accolades, but in the countless lives he touched through his gentle wisdom and steadfast example.

Dave graduated from Wagoner High School in 1955, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track, finishing second in the state shot put championship his senior year. He continued his athletic career at Connors State College, earning All-American recognition and eventually being inducted into the Connors State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. He attended that ceremony with his family by his side, characteristically humble about the honor. He completed his education at the College of the Ozarks in 1960, where he played football and basketball, and later earned his Master's Degree from Henderson State University with a dissertation titled "The Biochemical Analysis of the Pole Vault." It was a perfect reflection of his ability to blend scientific precision with athletic passion.

In 1960, fresh from college with an All-American certificate in his suitcase, Dave arrived in Murfreesboro to teach math. The principal drove him around town, introduced him to every school board member, and offered him a coaching position. From that moment forward, Dave Holloway was a Rattler. For the next 45 years, he poured his heart into Murfreesboro's students, serving as athletic director, football and track coach, math and physics teacher, principal, and ultimately superintendent before retiring in 2005.

His teams achieved remarkable success. Three high school track and field state championships. One junior high state championship. An undefeated 1962 football team named Arkansas 2A state champions by the media. His pole vaulter in 1961 cleared 11'11" on an aluminum pole and won state. Another athlete became the first Arkansas collegian to throw over 60 feet in the shot put. Yet Dave measured success differently. He believed track and field made better football players, and more importantly, that athletics built character. "I told them if you're going to play football you're going to run track," he once said. "I worked the dog out of them and they bought into it."

Beyond team victories, Dave took profound pride in helping individual athletes discover their potential. In one of Arkansas's smallest school classifications, his athletes competed with the very best in the state. Five of his shot putters threw over 50 feet, still a coveted distance among Arkansas athletes. His mathematical mind and innovative spirit were evident in everything he did, from his slow-motion biomechanical analysis of the pole vault to the five years he spent with his assistant coach and track team members building the Rattlers' track by hand, hauling burned cinders from the local railroad company's coal-fired steam engine. That track became one of the most popular meets in Southwest Arkansas, annually drawing about 30 teams. In 2005, the Murfreesboro Rattler football stadium was named "Holloway Field" in his honor.

Dave's influence extended far beyond Murfreesboro. In the 1970s, he served as president of the Arkansas Activities Association and proposed changing the track scoring system from 5-3-2-1 to the current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system, a change that was later adopted statewide. He held every office that governs the Arkansas Activities Association, from the presidency of the executive committee on down, always working to improve opportunities for young athletes across the state.

But Dave never lost sight of what truly mattered. An anonymous friend once wrote of him: "His game wasn't athletics, it was hearts, and that's the way he played it, 'All the Way.' He never played for himself, it was always for his team, his kids, his country, school or God." That same friend observed what everyone who knew Dave understood: he was "the biggest man in town who became the biggest man in town. Yet he never rose so high he couldn't kneel to council the needs of his students."

Dave's teaching extended far beyond the classroom and playing field. He taught through stories, tales from his childhood and lessons from sports that carried quiet observations and profound wisdom. He taught his family that it was appropriate to stand up for what you believe in and to work hard to achieve your goals, even if you fail. He taught them to leave a place better than they found it, that hard work and perseverance will result in successes even if they're not the ones you expected, and that love is worth pursuing and honoring. His faith and relationship with God were paramount, woven into everything he did and every lesson he taught.

In 1961, Dave married Jo Barnes, beginning a partnership that would span more than six decades. Together they built a life filled with adventure, learning, and growth. They learned to snow ski and made it a yearly tradition, later sharing that joy with their daughter Shannon. Dave held Jo on a pedestal, treasuring their longtime marriage with quiet respect and devotion.

In 1979, Dave and Jo adopted their daughter Shannon, and Dave transitioned from coaching to school administration. It was a deliberate choice to spend more time with his family, a decision that perfectly reflected his understanding that his most important team would always be the one at home.

After retirement, Dave and Jo traveled with friends old and new, enjoying bus tours around the country. But their greatest joy came from simple days filled with games (313, dominoes, ladder golf, ping pong) and time spent with family. Dave's competitive spirit never waned; he did not accept defeat well, no matter the game. Most of all, he cherished watching his granddaughter Anna play volleyball and actively participating in her interests, finding his deepest happiness in moments with his family and friends.

Dave was a man of smart humor, never sarcastic or crude, but quick to laugh and make a joke. He exhibited a quiet strength that permeated everything he did. He worried about "his girls" (Jo, Shannon, and Anna) and extended that protective love to his sisters and their families. He was a faithful member of First Christian Church in Murfreesboro, where his life of service reflected the verse that guided him: those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles.

"I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," Dave once said with characteristic humility. "Great athletes make the coach." But those who knew him understood the truth: great coaches make great people, and Dave Holloway was the greatest kind of coach. One who never stopped teaching, never stopped caring, and never stopped showing others how to live a life of purpose, faith, and love.

Dave is preceded in death by his parents.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Jo Barnes Holloway; his daughter, Shannon Halijan (Darin); his granddaughter, Anna Underwood; his sisters, Marilyn Norman (Sonny) and Marian Dale (Johnnie); his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Brenda Barnes; and numerous cherished nieces and nephews.

Portions of this obituary include remembrances from a 1979 article in the Murfreesboro Diamond written by a longtime friend of Dave's who wished to remain anonymous.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 716 North Washington Street, Murfreesboro, Arkansas. A memorial service celebrating Dave's life will be held Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Coach Dave Holloway Scholarship Fund at First State Bank, ensuring that Dave's legacy of investing in young people continues for generations to come.

Dave Holloway's life was not measured in the championships he won or the offices he held, but in the hearts he touched, the character he built, and the quiet example he set. He leaves behind a community forever changed by his presence, students whose lives were shaped by his wisdom, and a family who knew the deep blessing of his faithful love. Well done, good and faithful servant. May you soar on wings like eagles.

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