In Memoriam
A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Professor Jack P. Holman

Journal of Heat Transfer

Also notable recognitions received by him were the George
Westinghouse Award from the ASEE received in 1972; the James
Harry Potter Gold Medal by the ASME, for “eminent achievement or distinguished service in the science of thermodynamics inmechanical engineering” in 1986; the Worcester Reed WarnerGold Medal distinguished literature award of the ASME, in 1987;
and, the Ralph Coats Roe Award from the Mechanical Engineering Division of the ASEE received in 1995, in recognition of his
many “notable professional contributions.” These recognitions
placed him among several Thermal science “giants,” such as
Professors Bejan, Borgnakke, Gyftopoulos, Howell, Incropera,Lienhard, London, Minkowycz, and Sparrow. Even with all thisrecognition, his humility was always evident and contagious:“José, seeking to know what we do not keep us alive and young.”
he often said.
Jack was also a brave man. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease, he agreed in 2003 to have a Deep Brain Stimulator
implanted in his head. Even during this trying period, he transpired happiness by greeting me every day: “What is new, jollyJosé?” The surgery was very successful and provided him with agood quality of life.
An avid singer, particularly of opera, he was a member of theLovers Lane United Methodist Church choir for over 50 yr.
Photography was another of his passions, one that we shared: hewould often hang large, colored printouts of pictures he took, particularly during his trips to Manhattan, in the walls of his office as
if to invite comments and analyses of those visiting him.
He was a shepherd, an icon, a gentle human being. I do notbelieve he has ever been aware of how broad and deep his influence has been. I used to tell him about it, but he always dismissed
me with the same smile he greeted me. He seemed too humble toadmit it, as if it was all unimportant to him—he knew well hislife’s mission.
It was not only his books, his writings, or even his smile thatcharacterize Jack the most. It was his love for the truth, for thepleasure of teaching something to someone, the love of giving
without expecting anything in return.
The Professor Holman I meet in 1983 through his Heat Transfer
book, while in my junior year in a Brazilian university, was privileged to meet personally in 1991, became a colleague and grew toadmire at SMU for over 20 yr, will forever be remembered.
That the sadness the deprivation of his company brings, becomforted by the good lessons he taught us.
Jack is survived by his loving wife, Kathy, his son Blake,daughter Bevin, and three wonderful grandchildren. A memorialservice was held in the Sanctuary at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church May 23.

C 2013 by ASME
Copyright VJosé L. Lage
ASME Fellow
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Southern Methodist University,
Dallas, TX 75275-0337
e-mail: JLL@SMU.EDU

OCTOBER 2013, Vol. 135 / 100101-1

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Jack Philip Holman (1934–2013),
Ph.D., P.E., Professor Emeritus of
Mechanical Engineering and alumnusof the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Southern Methodist University (SMU), and ASME Fellow,
passed away on May 1.
Jack received his B.Sc. and M.Sc.
degrees from SMU in 1955 and 1956,respectively, and his Ph.D. degreefrom Oklahoma State University in1958, all in Mechanical Engineering.
Immediately after his Ph.D., he joined
the Air Force Aerospace ResearchLaboratory for 2 yr of active duty, and then returned to the SMU
hilltop as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
After 45 yr of teaching at SMU, having served terms as head ofSMU’s department of civil and mechanical engineering and as assistant provost for instructional media, he officially retired in 2005
as the Brown Foundation Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Author of Experimental Methods for Engineers (1st ed. 1966)
and Thermodynamics (1st ed. 1969), it was, however, his firstbook, Heat Transfer, published originally in 1963, that began
establishing him as a pioneer and leader in engineering education.
Generations of mechanical engineers at SMU and all around theworld have learned their “first steps” in Heat Transfer from hisbook. All three books, published by McGraw-Hill, have beenreprinted innumerous times and translated into at least six languages. When once asked why it was so difficult for one to“finish” writing a book, Jack answered, with his customary smile:“We never finish writing it; we simply have to give up on it to get
it published!”
A prolific researcher, Jack served as principal investigator for
research sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission, the NSF,
NASA, and the EPA. He also conducted research for the Strategic
Defense Initiative—the Ronald Reagan-era program known as“Star Wars.” Jack embraced the true cycle of the academic profession: learn well to profess best. He was an investigator of thetruth. As Professor Arun Narasinham, who worked for Jack during
his tenure at SMU, best describes it: “Flannelled always in threepiece with the tie-pin in place, holding the bagel wrapped in abrown paper bag and coffee, short Hercule Poirot strides inpolished black shoes, present always a few minutes earlier at
7:15 a.m. in our morning race to office, walking into the laboratory constantly reminding me not to jump up from my seat on seeing him.”
Recognition for his extraordinary work began very early with
the Mechanical Engineer of the Year award from the North Texas
Section of the ASME in 1961, and continued throughout hiscareer. From all his awards, the ones he probably was most fondof were the 13 “Outstanding Faculty Award” bestowed upon him
by the SMU engineering students. Member of a special breed ofengineering professors currently at the verge of extinction, hisconcern for the current erosion of American engineering teaching
was genuine: “If our time in academia is spent mostly after grants,
who will teach these kids engineering?”