David Michael Holbrook
October 16, 1945 ~ March 9, 2013
Resided in:
Candler, NC
David Michael (Mike) Holbrook of Candler, NC, passed away at 67 years of age on March 9, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Lynn Price Holbrook. He is survived by his two children: Scott A. Holbrook of Clifton, VA and his wife Sara; and Jodi H. Trantham of Candler and her husband Richard; and three grandchildren, Dalton and Price Holbrook and Logan Trantham.
Known to many as 'Hard Rock', he grew up like a young boy should in the Starnes Cove area of Buncombe County and was the son of the late James A. Holbrook and Hettie U. Holbrook, and brother to the late Robert F. "Bob" Holbrook. Mike, along with his gang of friends, cousins and brother, knew every inch of Holbrook Road.
After graduating from Enka High School in 1963, he entered Clemson University and received B.S. and M.S. degrees in 1967 and 1972, respectively. As an undergraduate at Clemson, he played baseball, was elected to student government as a Senior Class Senator, and was a member of Sigma Kappa Epsilon, a social fraternity.
Upon graduation from Clemson he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served on active duty from 1968 to 1970. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
In 1972, he entered a Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University but shortly thereafter accepted an employment offer from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Further in 1972, he was elected to membership in Gamma Sigma Delta, an honor society recognizing distinguished achievements in agriculture and other sciences. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Institute of Food Technology and co-authored several scientific publications.
In 1988, he completed Harvard University's Senior Managers in Government Program and was a member of the WNC Harvard Alumni Club.
Also in 1988, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Richard E. Lyng, as Director of Poultry Programs. As Director, he formulated and administered policies and programs to carry out the program's marketing and regulatory services. These included nationwide grading of poultry and eggs; development of standards, grades and specifications for these products; domestic and international market news reporting covering about 90 markets and 60 commodities; mandatory and voluntary egg product inspections; poultry purchases for school lunches, institutions, and other feeding programs; and oversight of research and promotion activities of the American Egg Board ("The Incredible Edible Egg"). Also, he represented the Programs before the public, the industry, Congress, Federal and State agencies and the media.
He retired from the USDA in 2001. During his career, he received numerous USDA awards for meritorious performance.
He enjoyed reading, gardening, golf, his dogs and most of all, his grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Joe Yelton officiating. A burial service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park will immediately follow. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, do something nice today for someone you love, root for Clemson's next game, or buy a kid a baseball glove.
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My condolences go out to the entire Family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jodi:
i am so sorry for your loss.
We are so very sorry for your loss, Mike was not only our friend but a great neighbor as well. We learned so much from him about the community we live and grew up in and all the great folks that made Candler home. We will miss him! Our deepest sympathy Jack and Kay
Jodi & Scott, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. My heart truly aches for you both right now. I pray that you can find comfort in knowing that your father has found the peace that he has been longing for.If there is anything you need please don’t hesitate to ask.
Scott and Sara, Danielle and I have you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Scott, its tough losing your remaining parent as Danielle can relate; however, look what your father has built and the extraodinary accomplishments as it relates to his personal work and most importantly, his family…you are lucky and have a great father, I can tell. May God bless you and your family and give you the support to celebrate and build upon Mike’s wonderful life.
Thinking of you all in this loss. He will be missed. Our love, Liz and Dave
Scott & Jodi…words cannot express our sorrow. It hasn’t been 2 wks since we spoke with your dad. We have 25 yrs. at least of wonderful memeories of you kids and your dad & mom. So sorry for all of us. God Bless
Dear Scott and Jodi,
No words can express how sad I am today. I cannot believe so many of our family members have left us behind. Mike and Lynn are once again together, and in no more pain. Even though I am not in Asheville with you guys, my heart and thoughts are with both of you. God Bless you! Love always from your Aunt in Virginia!!
We are sorry for your loss. If we can do anything please let us know. You are in our prayers. Love to all of you
My deepest sympathy. Mike was my boss at USDA. I appreciated his guidance and admired his intelect, creative solutions to problems, negotiation skills, and sense of humor. I was proud to gain his respect and valued his friendship.
Scott & Jodi–My deepest sympathy & condolences for the loss of your Dad & my good friend. Mike & I worked at USDA for many years and I always knew him as someone who was highly regarded in the professional arena & someone who had a great sense of humor & loved a good joke. We last spoke during the Christmas holidays & he was bringing me up-to-date on his grandchildren & the new puppydog. He was always so proud of the two of you. We will all miss him so very much. May God Bless.
Jodi,
I am truly sorry for your loss. I pray for you and your family’s comfort and peace and just know that God is in control and you are in His care.
To my long time friend, golfing foe and articulate discussion buddy. I’ll miss you as I do your loving wife but the two of you have left me with so many wonderful memories which will last a lifetime and more.
Jim Hodges
As a Clemson and SKE Brother, I, we, will miss Mike. I had occasion to contact him professionally through the years but lost contact socially. That is my loss. Condolences to each of you for the loss of a fine man and good friend.
Rock Dukes
Scott & Jodi,
We are so sorry for your loss. We have years of good memories with both your mom & dad in Aquia Harbour. Our thoughts & prayers are with you.
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Holbrook’s passing. He was one of my bosses at USDA. He was a brilliant manager who commanded excellence and integrity, but who was always loyal to his employees. His hearty laugh or his stories about Bo are forever in my memory. I am grateful for knowing him.
Scott and Jodi, I was so very sorry to hear about your Dad’s passing. I work in the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences at Clemson and had just recently visited your Dad in hopes to get him engaged back at Clemson. He had wonderfully fond memories of his time there and told me some great stories. I was even to help him reconnect with a favorite faculty member. It seemed like the last two years have been rough for your Dad but it sounded like he loved the time he had with the two of you and the grand kids. Again, I am so very sorry for ya’lls loss and will keep you both and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for yor loss. We were fraternity brothers. Got to see him for the first time in forever in Fall 2011. Glad we did. Take comfort for the time he was with us and for the love he had for his family.
Scott & Jodi . . . let me extend my sincere condolences on the passing of your dad. I had the great pleasure of working with Mike at USDA. The memories are many. He was a straight-shooter with a wry sense of humor – much needed, but not often evident in the workplace. Without a doubt, USDA and the larger world were better places for Mike having been with us.
CU 65;SKE 63; US ARMY 65-67; VIETNAM,CPT
Jodi & family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this difficult time.
Charles & Jean
Enjoyed a brief moment with Michael last year on a Sunday morning on Holbrook Road. We talked of his love for his wife and pride in his children. My dad, Willis Holbrook, spoke of Michael fondly and had some time with him when Dad journeyed back to the farm to view the mountains one last time.
Scott and Jodi
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your families at this difficult time. I was good friends with Lynn and Mike in Aquia several years ago. We can all reflect on all our good times and memories together.
I am sorry to hear of the passing of Mike. He was a great pledge brother and fraternity brother. I am glad that he came down to visit us in the last year so we could reconnect with him. He will be missed.
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of Michael. He was a wonderful fraternity brother and friend during my days at Clemson. Having seen him on limited occasions since those days, I do have fond memories and I am sure he will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.
I was surprised and saddened to learn of Mike’s passing. For a number of years we worked just a few doors from each other at USDA. Mike had a quick mind and boundless energy, and used those qualities to carry out his responsibilities to one of America’s most important industries in a highly effective manner. I greatly enjoyed his company and placed a high value on our friendship. My sincere condolences go out to his family.
Mike was my cousin and we grew up together – as much as you can when you live in another state. He is in a better place.
Jodi & Scott,
I am truly heartbroken for you both for the loss of your dad. I just can’t believe it. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were kids hanging out at your house and your parents coming in from a golf outing! Many great memories with both your parents. My LOVE goes out to you and your family. I love you, Meredith
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss. Mike and I were fraternity brothers in Sigma Kappa Epsilon at Clemson. He was a few years behind me, but would ride home with me for a weekend now and then. We lost contact over the years, but I have great memories of our times together.
Jodi, Scott and family, please accept my deepest condolences in your Dad’s passing. We shared fond memories of our youth. Please know I will be keeping all of your family in my prayers.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I have found memories of your mom and dad and the laughs they shared with my parents from Aquia Harbor days.
Jodi, Scott, and families,
In talking with your dad lately, I learned how very proud he was of you. He and I went to school together and had been sharing old memories and catching up on what had been going on in our lives in the intervening years. I was so very sorry to hear of his passing. He will be missed by many.
My deepest sympathies to the Holbrook family. You’ll be missed.
Rest in peace, Mike…
Jodi and Scott – I am saddened to hear of the loss of your dad. Over the four decades that we knew each other we were colleagues, great friends and for the last many years of his career at USDA, he was my boss. I was truly fortunate to know Mike and have many great memories of him and your mom and of both of your as youths. As others have noted before me, I can confirm that he ‘told it like it is,’ had a great sense of humor (best of all, he always laughed at my jokes too) and was adamant in his support of family and those that he worked with. Fond memories of a wonderful friend will never be forgotten.
Jodie and Scott,
I was sorry to hear about your Dad.
Teri Bonner
Scot and Jodi, condolences on Mike’s passing. I spent many nights with Mike studying in the old Plant and Animal Processing Building Grad student offices at Clemson and time at Mike’s and Lynn’s Prefab on campus. He had a great career and made an impact on Agriculture.
May he liven up Heaven as he did Clemson.
David L. Wicker Gainesville Georgia
My deepest condolences. Your dad was my boss here at USDA a LONG time ago, and he was a great boss. He always encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone. Because of his guidance, I got out of the clerical field and into contracting. I’ve never looked back. He was a smart man, with a wonderful sense of humor. He surely made a difference, and he will be missed.
Dear Jodi I am so sorry for you loss. Your dad was one of a kind and will truly be missed. I know there no words that can ease the pain but my prayers are with you and your family!
Go with God Mike
Woody