YesterYear: Frank Holloway - Part 3
 | Author:
Linda Huth
Linda Huth: MT43 News Board Member and Copy Editor |
Editor's Note: Frank Holloway was a well-respected, well-loved member of the Broadwater Community. There are many people here who remember Frank. This is a 3 part article about Frank as remembered by Linda Huth.
Frank Holloway - Part 3 Linda Huth Starting during World War II, Frank would do his work in the assessor’s office and then go out and work on ranches and he never accepted any payment for the work. The work was familiar. As a 20-year-old newcomer to North America in 1911, he made his living as a ranch-hand, migrant worker. He said he had no reason to leave England, “I just got it in my head I would come to Canada,” where he had two uncles, who lived near Montreal. He came to the United States in 1914.
Traveling around, he finally ended up near Fort Benton, where he lived until World War I struck and he enlisted in the Army.
While in the Army he suffered from a mustard gas attack and spent many months in a facility recuperating.
When he was released from duty he returned to Montana to the Lincoln area for a year and then wandered between Canada and Montana for a while. At one time he said, “The last day we thrashed it was 10 degrees below zero. They were hauling wheat out on sleds”.
For a time, he followed the wheat harvest on a thrashing crew. In 1922 the trek ended with a trip to Canyon Creek, Montana with a job with the Sieben Livestock Company. He made the acquaintance of a young lady by the name of Hazel Bruce, who cooked for the Sieben Livestock Company.
The acquaintance led to marriage and they settled in Townsend, where Hazel had grown up.
He was a trifle worried about this, and said ‘Jack of All Trades and master of none’. He had to find a job to support his new wife. First, the couple took to managing a restaurant, then he worked at a grocery store, Cash ‘n’ Carry. He said ‘I didn’t know any more about a store than that chair does.' In 1934 he filed for Broadwater County assessor. and won. He remained in this position until he retired after 32 years and then he served as Deputy Assessor.
He served for 36 years as a volunteer with the fire department. For 25 years, he played Santa Claus for the American Legion. He could be seen on Main Street ringing the bell for donations to the bucket that collected funds to help the needy during Christmas.
He enjoyed going out on Christmas Eve and visiting homes as Santa to give joy to kids. He said: ‘If I can give joy to a little kid at Christmas time, why it gives me joy, too’”.
In this article he is quoted as having said: “People’s been good to me. The country’s been good to me. I’ve done a little of everything and I’ve enjoyed it all. Life’s been good to me. I’m glad to do what I can to help”.
In March of 1978, he was one of seven Montanans awarded the first 1978 Jefferson Award for the state.
In the letter to him telling him he had won, they offered a brief description of the award:
“Each year, the American Institute for Public Service presents Jefferson Awards (so named after Thomas Jefferson) in several categories, one of which is the Greatest Public Service Benefiting Local Communities. The Montana Television Network is a co-sponsor with the Institute in Montana. The goal is to reach into local communities across the country to reward initiative and leadership at the local level. The thrust of these awards is to identify community people, average citizens, who are performing significant public services, predominately without recognition.”
This award was presented to him by Governor Judge at the State Capitol in Helena on March 27, 2978.
After he died, the Townsend Rotary Club established a fund for a scholarship to a graduating senior at Broadwater High School in his honor. The purpose of the award is to establish a permanent memorial to honor Frank H. Holloway, whose life in this community provided one of the finest examples of the very purpose of Rotary, “Service above Self”.
Also after he died, a park in Townsend was named after him. The park is on D Street, with a Skate Board facility, soccer field, and sometimes an ice skating pond is Holloway Park.
This article has been difficult to do because there is so much more to say, but not enough room. Hopefully, it will inspire everyone to take some time to be of service to others.
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