EL PASO - Harrell Lee Holder, 89, died in El Paso, on Sept, 16, 2021. He was born on his grandfather’s farm near Scranton on Feb. 4, 1932. He was a lifelong Baptist.
Mr. Holder was a dedicated educator. He was a mathematics teacher, coach, principal and superintendent. Retiring from education at age 75 he was the longest serving superintendent in the US, with 44 consecutive years. He continued working for six more years as an education consultant for Three Rivers Education Foundation. He served as superintendent in the Three Way ISD (Maple), Southside ISD (San Antonio), Bishop CISD, Hereford ISD, Anthony ISD, Cobre Consolidated ISD (Bayard, NM), and Pecos ISD (NM). He also served as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities.
He graduated from Stanton High School in 1949. He then received a BA degree from Texas Tech, a M.Ed. from Texas Tech and an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. During the Korean Conflict, he served in the army on the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project as an atomic weapons electrical specialist.
He is survived by his wife Dr. Adela Holder of El Paso; his five children, Robert Holder (Julia) of Katy, Bart Holder (Anna) of Waxahachie, Ingrid Holder Ahlstrom (Marc) of Gilbert AZ, Jad Holder (Zulema) of Mesa, AZ, and Yamel Holder Knowles (Brady) of Logan, UT, his sister Donna Kayser of Artesia, NM, and 18 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Truett and Ruth Sprawls Holder and his grandparents Richard and Carrie Black Holder and Drew and Verda Ledbetter Sprawls.
Funeral Service will be at12:30 pm, on Oct. 1, at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass.
Committal Service will follow at 2:00 PM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery