Rutledge Gordon Holleman

HOLLEMAN, DR. RUTLEDGE GORDON JR. ("GORDON") - born December 23, 1924, he passed away Monday, May 9, 2011 at his home in Rockwood, Tennessee. Gordon served in the Army infantry 1943-1946, as non-commissioned officer in European Theater during WWII. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received near Clairupt, France Nov. 16, 1944. Other awards included Bronze Service Star, Combat Infantry Badge. Commissioned as 2nd Lt., USA, discharged as 1st Lt., Washington (State) National Guard. Gordon attended California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obisbo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State College 1948. He earned his M.S. in Animal Breeding from Washington State College (now Washington State University) in 1950 and Ph.D. from Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University) in 1952. Gordon worked at the Richland, Washington Hanford Nuclear Reservation 1948~49, examining the effects of radioactive isotopes on wildlife, farm and laboratory animals. He joined Swift & Company in Chicago, starting research laboratory in Nutrition Department, soon split off into Animal Husbandry Division. He was responsible for feeding and management programs for all Swift owned livestock and research within the Feed Department. Gordon purchased land for Swift for a research farm and was appointed as farm manager 1952-1962, then Managing Director, Swift Chemicals Ltd., Liverpool, England 1962·66. He returned to Chicago and drove company collaboration for six point ventures in Japan, England and France. Gordon resigned from Swift in 1970 and joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as State Specialist at the UT Institute of Agriculture, where he retired in 1991 as Professor Emeritus. Gordon was preceded in death by parents R. G. Holleman, Sr. and Ione Dickinson Holleman; and son, Guthrie Gilmor. He is survived by his loving wife, Belva Bise Holleman; daughter, Belva Holleman Jennings (Brendan), Harrison, TN; and sons, John Marshall (Robie Jackson), Sewanee, TN, and Rutledge Gordon, III (Brenda), Edmond, OK; and special friends, James (Dayne) Frost. Gordon was member of the Cherokee Lodge #728 F/A.M. Family and friends will gather for a graveside service at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery with Full Military Honors by Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. www.rosemortuary.com

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Rutledge Gordon Holleman

December 23, 1924 - May 9, 2011