A new Ralph Holt Memorial Scholarship was awarded in 2003 by the alumni organization to honor the late Milan native who was a longtime teacher, coach and administrator. Holt, a Milan native and graduate of the Class of 1939, died in 2002 at the age of 80.
Presenting the scholarship were Holt’s children: Sara Holt Welch, Martha Holt Gasser and Robert Holt. Winner of the $750 scholarship was Rebekah Robbins, daughter of Robin and Sarah Robbins. Sarah served as president of MHSAA in 2001.
“Dad loved coaching, but I believe the most important thing to him was educating young people and molding them into young men and women,” said daughter Sara Holt Welch during the presentation. She said nothing would have pleased Holt more than having a scholarship in his honor awarded to help a student pursue a college education.
Born in Milan, Jan. 20, 1922, Charles Ralph Holt graduated from MHS in 1939 and attended Cumberland University in Lebanon, playing football, basketball and baseball. He served in the Air Force during World War II. Entering his career in education, he taught and coached varsity sports at Manville, Wyoming and then returned to Tennessee to coach at Greenfield and Sharon before coming back home to Milan where he taught Tennessee history and English and coached junior high football, basketball and track and field. His teams won 80 percent of their games.
Altogether, he taught 32 years, 28 of those coming at Milan where he also coached 15 years. He was an administrator and principal at Park Avenue Elementary School from 1966-1979.
The Ralph Holt
scholarship is the twelfth to be established and funded by the alumni
association. Twelve additional scholarships are privately funded and awarded
each year on Alumni Day.