Marion Holston, Jr.

Jim Holston, community leader and hospice advocate died June 18, 2008.

Memorial services will be held 2 PM Saturday, June 20, 2008 at St Andrews Episcopal Church.

Jim devoted the past three decades of his life to the hospice movement. He began as a volunteer at St. Anthonys Hospice and was currently a community Educator with Hospice Care of the Southwest.

He worked this year with KACV public television to tell his story in a documentary program, Live Well, Die Strong. The title was his motto for the last months of his life.

After Jim was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he underwent surgery, radiation, ablation therapy and chemotherapy. In 2008 he became a hospice patient himself as he had counseled so many others to do before. Jim became a regional spokesman not only for hospice care, but also for prostate cancer, adhering to his philosophy of communicating the gift of hope.

At a Dan Folgelberg concert benefiting the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Jim told the audience When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, no one would talk about it, Jim was determined that the blue ribbon worn to raise awareness about the high rates of prostate cancer would become as well known as the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness.

Before his career in hospice, Jim dedicated his life to then West Texas State University, where he received his bachelors degree and a masters degree in communications. He served as student body president as an undergraduate.

While at WT, Jim joined the cast of Texas, and performed with the show for 10 seasons. He loved the experience of performing in the natural beauty of Palo Duro Canyon. It was like being in church every night to celebrate the outdoors. We would finish the show and have the short drive out of the Canyon to Amarillo. Get up for my summer job and then drive back to the Canyon. It was a wonderful time. Im so proud of that, he said.

Holston was Associate Dean of Student Services at WT and later became Director of Student Activities. He was responsible for booking concerts and events for campus entertainment including the Ike and Tina Turner Review and other celebrities of the era.

After leaving WT, Holston worked for Battelle Memorial Institute. He was executive director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Porgram and Community Educator for Rape CrisisDomestic Violence.
PJim was a columnist both for the Amarillo Globe News and Accent West magazine. Jim was an amazing friend who enjoyed bringing people t

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