Hyfler/Rosner
2004-05-23 14:33:15 UTC
Former 'Tennessean' photographer Thomas Gerald Holly dies
By DWIGHT LEWIS
Staff Writer
Thomas Gerald Holly, 87, an award-winning photographer with
The Tennessean for 30 years before his retirement in August
1984, died yesterday at his home here after a long bout with
Parkinson's disease.
''Gerald Holly was a gentle man who was also a tough-nosed
journalist,'' Tennessean Editor Frank Sutherland said. ''He
photographed every sort of Tennessean, from its movers and
shakers to people in trouble with the law.
''His brand of photojournalism doesn't come along often, but
I'm glad it came our way.''
In addition to working at the newspaper for three decades,
Mr. Holly took photographs that appeared in National
Geographic, as well as Time and Life magazines.
In June 1977, Time ran a picture on its cover that he had
taken of convicted assassin James Earl Ray a week or so
before Ray escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
in Petros, Tenn. Mr. Holly had taken the picture after going
to the maximum-security prison in East Tennessee along with
a reporter who was interviewing Ray.
Mr. Holly also worked with the photo agency Black Star for
15 years. After retiring from The Tennessean, he served as
photographer for Vanderbilt University for 15 years.
He was also a talented cartoonist and illustrated a column,
''It Happened Hereabouts,'' that appeared in the old
Tennessean Magazine. The column featured funny stories
submitted by readers.
He photographed early civil rights demonstrations here, as
well as Elvis Presley's visits to Nashville and the scene of
country music star Patsy Cline's fatal plane crash.
In 1976 he traveled to Memphis to photograph boxing legend
Muhammad Ali campaigning for John Jay Hooker as Hooker made
a bid for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate.
Born in Marshall County, Mr. Holly was the son of T.C. and
Flossie Luna Holly and a graduate of Cornersville High
School. For two years he attended Watkins Institute here
(now Watkins College of Art and Design), and he served in
the U.S. Navy for nine months in 1945-46.
For the last 36 years, he was married to the former Paulette
Burger, a native of Manchester, Tenn., who survives.
Services will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Bills-McGaugh
Funeral Home, Lewisburg, Tenn. Burial will be in Lone Oak
Cemetery there. Visitation with the family will be 4-8 p.m.
today at the funeral home.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, are three daughters,
Alice Carlyn McGhee, Joy Holly and Carol Ann Scarborough;
two sons, Thomas Holly Jr. and Joshua Holly, all of
Nashville; a sister, Lurline Turner of Lewisburg; and four
grandchildren.
By DWIGHT LEWIS
Staff Writer
Thomas Gerald Holly, 87, an award-winning photographer with
The Tennessean for 30 years before his retirement in August
1984, died yesterday at his home here after a long bout with
Parkinson's disease.
''Gerald Holly was a gentle man who was also a tough-nosed
journalist,'' Tennessean Editor Frank Sutherland said. ''He
photographed every sort of Tennessean, from its movers and
shakers to people in trouble with the law.
''His brand of photojournalism doesn't come along often, but
I'm glad it came our way.''
In addition to working at the newspaper for three decades,
Mr. Holly took photographs that appeared in National
Geographic, as well as Time and Life magazines.
In June 1977, Time ran a picture on its cover that he had
taken of convicted assassin James Earl Ray a week or so
before Ray escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
in Petros, Tenn. Mr. Holly had taken the picture after going
to the maximum-security prison in East Tennessee along with
a reporter who was interviewing Ray.
Mr. Holly also worked with the photo agency Black Star for
15 years. After retiring from The Tennessean, he served as
photographer for Vanderbilt University for 15 years.
He was also a talented cartoonist and illustrated a column,
''It Happened Hereabouts,'' that appeared in the old
Tennessean Magazine. The column featured funny stories
submitted by readers.
He photographed early civil rights demonstrations here, as
well as Elvis Presley's visits to Nashville and the scene of
country music star Patsy Cline's fatal plane crash.
In 1976 he traveled to Memphis to photograph boxing legend
Muhammad Ali campaigning for John Jay Hooker as Hooker made
a bid for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate.
Born in Marshall County, Mr. Holly was the son of T.C. and
Flossie Luna Holly and a graduate of Cornersville High
School. For two years he attended Watkins Institute here
(now Watkins College of Art and Design), and he served in
the U.S. Navy for nine months in 1945-46.
For the last 36 years, he was married to the former Paulette
Burger, a native of Manchester, Tenn., who survives.
Services will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Bills-McGaugh
Funeral Home, Lewisburg, Tenn. Burial will be in Lone Oak
Cemetery there. Visitation with the family will be 4-8 p.m.
today at the funeral home.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, are three daughters,
Alice Carlyn McGhee, Joy Holly and Carol Ann Scarborough;
two sons, Thomas Holly Jr. and Joshua Holly, all of
Nashville; a sister, Lurline Turner of Lewisburg; and four
grandchildren.