George Wesley Holyfield

George W. Holyfield of Houston, Texas passed away on September 11, 2013.  He was born in Piper, Kansas on April 4,1931 to Wesley and Hilda Holyfield.  He is survived by his former wife, Lou Holyfield, sons Kevin Holyfield and Kyle Holyfield, daughter-in-law Suzanne, grandchildren Rhiannon, Ryan and Kristen, great-granddaughter Mae Allen, sister Laurel Perry, nieces Laine Bourn, Leslie Nigh and their families.

George graduated from the University of Kansas and was commissioned Ensign, USN through the NROTC and went on active duty in the Navy on March 1, 1955 and retired on August 1, 1988 with the rank of Captain, USN.  He received his aviation training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida and was assigned to the Naval Air Stations in Hutchinson, Kansas and Olathe, Kansas where he was assigned to the Fleet Tactical Support Squadron 883.  He also served at several other naval air stations including NAS Barber’s Point, Hawaii, where he was in the Airborne Early Warning Squadron Fourteen and flew the Lockheed Super Constellation (EC-121) over the northern reaches of the Pacific from Midway Island to the Aleutians in 14-hour flights.  His flights were designed to patrol the DEW Line (Distant Early Warning).  He had also qualified in several other types of aircraft including the SNJ, T28, SNB and C-118.  His aviation designation was TPC/ATP (Air Transport Pilot).  He served as the Commanding Officer of the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 53 at the Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas.  He was awarded the following significant awards: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy “E” Ribbon and the Naval Reserve Medal with Hour Glass. 

Coinciding with his service in the Naval Reserves, George was employed by oil companies Cities Service, Gulf Oil and Chevron from which he retired in October 1992.  His duties there focused on Supply and Distribution; George had many business friends and colleagues, many of whom he kept in contact following his retirement.

George was an active member of several naval and aviation organizations: Naval Order, Navy League, Association of Naval Aviation, Naval Reserve Association, Reserve Officers Association and the Naval Air Transport Squadron.  As a member of the Navy League he participated in the committees handling the planning and execution of the commissioning of USS San Jacinto (CG-56) on January 23, 1988 in Houston, Texas and USS Stout (DDG-55) on August 13, 1994 in Galveston, Texas.  He participated in planning for the visit on March 16 to 22, 1983 of USS Houston (SSN-713) following commissioning.  In the Naval Order he was a charter member of the Texas Commandery that was founded on July 1, 1986.  He was also a member of the committee that raised funds for and built the monument in Sam Houston Park, downtown Houston, Texas, in memory of the crew of USS Houston (CA-30) that was sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942 in the early months of World War II.  This monument was dedicated on November 11, 1995 after four years of planning and raising funds. 

George was very active in the committees handling the planning for the national congresses held by the Naval Order in Galveston, Texas in 1987 and Houston, Texas in 2002.  George served as the Commander of the Texas Commandery of the Naval Order from January 1997 to January 2000.  He also served as a member of the Nimitz Committee from its founding on October 1, 1986 to the present.  This committee awards annually the “Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Leadership Award” to those who have displayed outstanding leadership qualities in the sea services.  George served in several national offices of the Naval Order including the Executive Committee from 1989 to 1991, Companion to the General Council (At Large) from 2001 to 2003, Parliamentarian General from 2003 to 2005, and Assistant Recorder General from 2008 to 2009.  Following the Annual Congress of 2002 which was held in Houston, Texas, George had the honor of being a member of a committee of five Naval Order officers that presented to former President George H. W. Bush in his offices the “Admiral of the Navy George Dewey Award” for his leadership and dauntless professionalism in the service of the United States. 

George was a very active recruiter for new members of the Texas Commandery.  George was always a very active participant in all of the organizations to which he belonged and his warm and friendly personality will be greatly missed by all who knew him.