| Don Holder |
Full Name: Donald Joseph Holder
Born: September 29, 1928, Jersey City, N.J.
Died: August 31, 2015, Miami, Fla.
School: Dickinson High School in Jersey City, New Jersey
Awards: 1994 US Gymnastics Hall of Fame
Olympics:
1952 - at Helsinki, Finland representing United States in Gymnastics
Legacy Bricks: Legacy Walk Map Link
1952, 53, 54, 55 Gymnastics AA - Loc 55
1982 Gymnastics HOF - Loc 66
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| Connie and Don Holder. | Bill Roetzheim, Coach Hartley Price, DON HOLDER |
| FSU Career |
| Gymnastics | |
Year Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown 51-52 5-7 155 Fr * Jersey City, NJ 52-53 5-7 155 So * Jersey City, NJ 53-54 5-7 155 Jr * Jersey City, NJ 54-55 5-7 150 Sr * Jersey City, NJ |
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| All-American Awards |
| Gymnastics |
Year Award
1952 NCAA Championships - All-Around (4th)
NCAA Championships - Side Horse (7th)
NCAA Championships - High Bar (8th)
NCAA Championships - Parallel Bars (8th)
NCAA Championships - Rope Climb (8th)
1953 NCAA Championships - Horizontal Bar (5th)
NCAA Championships - Parallel Bars (7th)
NCAA Championships - All-Around (8th)
1954 NCAA Championships - All-Around (2nd)
NCAA Championships - Side Horse (4th)
NCAA Championships - High Bar (5th)
NCAA Championships - Parallel Bars (6th)
1955 NCAA Championships - Parallel Bars (3rd)
NCAA Championships - All-Around (3rd)
NCAA Championships - High Bar (8th)
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| Member of the FSU Hall of Fame |
| Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1982 |
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Don Holder was a versatile gymnast and a leader of the 1952 NCAA and 1953 AAU champion Florida State Seminoles. He won an individual NCAA championship in 1953 and was Southern Gymnastics champion in
three events. Holder was named to the United States squad for the Pan American Games and in 1952 he represented the United States at the Olympic Games at Helsinki. Holder twice captained the Seminole
gymnastics team and in 1954 he was top scorer in Florida State's upset victory over the world champion Swedish Olympic team. Coach Hartley Price said of Holder, "He became very, very good and was
extremely consistent at everything he did." With grace, agility, and strength Don Holder brought honor to his alma mater in arenas around the world. Donald Joseph Holder Obituary. Published by the El Nuevo Herald, Miami, Fl on Sep 16, 2015, page A6. Donald Joseph "Coach" Holder, passed away on Sept 1, 2015, in Miami, Florida. Born in Jersey City, N.J., Don attended Dickinson
High while training and competing in gymnastics at the Swiss Turverein in Union City. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Army he attended Florida State University earning an BS and a Masters in
Education. Don was an All-Around Champion on the National Champion FSU Gymnastics Team. He was a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team in Helsinki, Finland and competed in the 1955 Pan American Games,
bringing home silver medals spurring the U.S. Team to gold. Don brought his quiet but skillful approach to coaching and touched the lives of countless students at Miami Jackson and Coral Park High
Schools. Many remained friends with their "Coach" throughout his life. He loved fishing and diving with his family and friends. Don and the love of his life, Connie Smith, (predeceased) were married
for 63 years. He is survived by his three sons Timothy, Terry, and Patrick. |
| FSU Statistics |
| Gymnastics |
Date Opponent/Meet Event Place Points
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1952 Season
03/22/1952 NCAA Championship All-Around 4 7
03/22/1952 NCAA Championship Still Rings 1 11
03/22/1952 NCAA Championship Horizontal Bar 8 3
03/22/1952 NCAA Championship Side Horse 7 4
03/22/1952 NCAA Championship Parallel Bars 8 3
03/22/1952 NCAA Championship Rope Climb 8 3
04/26/1952 National AAU Championship All-Around 4 3
04/26/1952 National AAU Championship Still Rings 5 2
1953 Season
03/28/1953 NCAA Championship All-Around 8 3
03/28/1953 NCAA Championship Horizontal Bar 5 6
03/28/1953 NCAA Championship Parallel Bars 7 4
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship All-Around 5 2
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship Indian Clubs 1 7
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship Side Horse 4 3
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship Long Horse 4 3
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship Horizontal Bar 6 1
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship Still Rings 5 2
05/02/1953 National AAU Championship Parallel Bars 5 2
1954 Season
04/03/1954 NCAA Championship All-Around 2 9
04/03/1954 NCAA Championship Side Horse 4 7
04/03/1954 NCAA Championship Horizontal Bar 5 6
04/03/1954 NCAA Championship Parallel Bars 6 5
05/01/1954 National AAU Championship All-Around 3 4
05/01/1954 National AAU Championship Horizontal Bar 4 3
05/01/1954 National AAU Championship Parallel Bars 5 2
1955 Season
03/27/1955 NCAA Championship All-Around 3 8
03/27/1955 NCAA Championship Still Rings 1 11
03/27/1955 NCAA Championship Parallel Bars 3 8
03/27/1955 NCAA Championship Long Horse 5 6
03/27/1955 NCAA Championship High Bar 8 3
04/30/1955 National AAU Championship All-Around 5 2
04/30/1955 National AAU Championship Still Rings 3 4
04/30/1955 National AAU Championship Parallel Bars 5 2
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