A former fire chief of 18 years for Marion Township, Chief Jack L. Holliday Sr., died peacefully on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2013, at the Grant Medical Center following an extended battle with heart and lung disease. He was 78 years old and of Marion.
On December 9, 1935, Jack was born in Toledo, Ohio, his parents, the late Don and Helen (Leonard) Holliday. He was raised in Sylvania, Ohio, where he graduated from Burnham High School in the Class of 1954.
After one year of college at the University of Toledo, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country. He served from 1956 to 1958, stationed in Panama.
Upon his honorable discharge, Jack returned home to Sylvania, Ohio, where his lifelong career of being a firefighter began as a volunteer for the Sylvania Fire Department. He served at the Sylvania and Ottawa Hills Fire Departments from 1959 to 1975. Then, after serving one year as a fire chief in Fort Hays, Kansas, Jack and his family moved to Marion, Ohio, where he took over as the fire chief for the Marion Township Fire Department.
Chief Holliday was instrumental in the founding of the Tri-Rivers/Marion General Hospital School of Parmedicine. He served as fire chief for 18 years, until his retirement in 1994. As a chief, he believed in being “tough but fair”, always demanding everyone’s best while on the job. For his dedication and service, he was awarded many honors.
He also was a past president of the Ohio First Aid and Rescue association, a member of the Central Ohio Fire Chiefs, and served on the board of the Ohio Fire Chiefs. Further, he was a member of the Marion County Firefighters, North Central Ohio EMS Council, American Red Cross Board, Marion Erie Credit Union Board, and was a member and past president of the Marion Noon Kiwanis.
Another passion of Jack’s was music, and he loved to play the trumpet in the Marion Community Band. His favorite songs to play were any marching songs of John Phillip Sousa’s. He and Margie also loved attending all other community plays and musicals.
A strong man of honor and character, Chief Jack will be remembered for his decisive action, his concern and fighting for his paramedics and firefighters, and for his love for his family.
He will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of 51 years, Margie Vaughn (Brenner) Holliday of Marion, whom he married on June 16, 1962; two children: Jack (Joanne) Holliday Jr. of Marion, and Susan (Richard) Kennedy of LaRue; and extended family members.
Jack’s family will greet friends from 2 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 5th, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Services honoring his life and service as a firefighter will also be held there on Monday at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. David Hoffman officiating. Military honors provided by the Marion County United Veterans Council will follow his services at the funeral home. To conclude his services will be a procession honoring his service as a firefighter, that will end at the Knights of Columbus Hall., Marion, OH 43302.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jack Holliday Scholarship Fund (to help educate and train firefighters) and the Marion Concert Band, and they may be sent to the funeral home.
Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home is honored to have been chosen to serve Jack’s family and your private condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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