Roger W. Holler Jr.

HOLLER, JR., ROGER W. Central Florida businessman Roger W. Holler, Jr., age 63, died suddenly at home Saturday night. The beloved husband, father and grandfather was the patriarch of the Holler dealership family. He will be sorely missed, especially by his wife and business partner, Judi, to whom he was married for 42 years. The two were college sweethearts who met as freshmen at Florida Southern College, married as sophomores, graduated together and then went on to have three children who are now also executives in the family company. He is also survived by his namesake, Roger, III, son Christopher and daughter Jill Holler Rogers. He delighted in his nine grandchildren and was a very proud father and grandfather. A private family man, Roger Holler believed strongly in giving back to his community. He would often offer his plane to fly hurt children to Shriner Burn hospitals without credit or fanfare. Mr. Holler's mentor was his grandfather, William E. Holler, who was vice president of both General Motors and its Chevrolet Motor Division from 1920 - 1945. Roger started working at his father's auto dealership in the 1960s, then opened Roger Holler Chevrolet on Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park in 1965. He twice served as president of the Central Florida Auto Dealer's Association, a position his three children have also held, which he pointed to with pride. He was president of what is known as the Holler Automotive Group of Companies that included seventeen local dealerships. Born in Orlando, Roger Holler, Jr. was highly respected in the automobile industry. He received Time magazine's Quality Dealer Award in the 1980s and was a graduate of the Chevrolet School of Merchandising and Management. A third generation automobile businessman, Mr. Holler employed nearly one thousand associates that he considered his extended family, and told them so often. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 26 at the First United Methodist Church on Interlachen in Winter Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Roger W. Holler, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1720, Winter Park, FL 32790. All other arrangements will be private, handled by Carey Hand Cox- Parker Funeral Home, Winter Park (407) 647-1942.