Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-18
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
An UnforgettobIe Character

1T ISN'T OFTEN THAT testimonial dinners given to
press agents but Helene and Goe Ahearn Frank
will toss January 81 for Joe Holman Perhaps it is
because Joe is more than agent He institution
in this town.
Joe is huge pale man. additionally dressed in brown
In his day he may have exoled fighters. wresers
basketbaer sxday bike riders hockey players auto racers
ice skaters tennis players ad nnt than any press agent
in the country 1t is possible that he sleeps but very
often
He is pale because rarely the sum- He is man
OF the night 1t is the rule rather than the exception
ind him at o'clock in the morning in of the citys
newspaper Offices grinding out his copy absent sports
writer's typewriter No plush office and slick secretary
Joe and this probably because in earlier days he
old-school newspaperman. good one too!
Holman is the only press agent who to mind
except the late Harry Mende of New York. who would
up sports writer to apologize when show had
plugging went bad "Godie bought turkey he would
OF disappointing fighter. "How was he to know? The
buns record read good I'm just touted you him.
***
ACTUALLY THERE is SCARCELY young sports writer
and some not young-who hasn't been ieped by Joe
Holman. If he is chaperoning famous athletic figure Joe
Louis Jack Kramer perhaps he doesn't drop sports
department and introduce the celebrity only to the boss
He makes the rounds
zoe Louis this is Bill Blow. In my opinion he is
one of the finest young sports writers in the country I'm
sure you've read his stuff Before Holman finishes escortng
the uminary from The Star to the Post and
to the News the celebrity fairly we'll Wash
ngon has the greatest and deepest collection of topght
sports writer's in the world.
1.-THE funny thing that began to believe Joe myself"
sports writer remarked IF he is soft-soaping
sure makes it convincing Anyway always feel better for
talking with him."
On many occasion newspaper guy suffering from the
shorts has been made feel better the wallet
is no record of how much Joe has loaned in small
doses to sports writer's brokendown pugs others the
underpaid but Dick OBrien his colleague the
old Herald, says it must be considerable
mot that Joe had much money" Dick said But what
he had on him. Joe to guy who asked for it. This
began in his newspaper days. when he had nothing gain
except quickly forgotten gratefuness That guy soots
and weighs maybe 260 pounds but it's mostly heart He
asks for thing, even press agent"
WHICH is TRUE. Holman submits propaganda in
quantity quality. If it used fine not there are
hard feelings
Years ago-Joe will be So Sunday-he was basketball
player Later he turned to managing of the best
amateur in town. Part of his duties felt was to
visit the newspaper offices and submit written accounts of
his teams performances Bill Coye sports editor of old
Herald, took liking to this large young and offered
him job the staff
Pretty soon he covering the Senators and it was
quickly disclosed that he could write two waysfactualy
straight reporter and POLITICALLY He liked write
verse because, deep down, he and remains sent-
mentalist.
and his odes both rich sincerity authentic
poetry Always gentle person. Holman treated the Senators
with kindness in his straight pieces From the training
camps he wrote of the ball clubs activities for the morning
Herald Joe Holman" the afternoon Times
under the of Bob Thayer In those days that
not uncommon on some newspapers.
OvERwORKED, HOLMAN STILL found time to write
verses. About Griffith Johnson other heroes
Three times publishers bought his stuff Given hours
notice, Joe could whip up appropriate for
upcomng occasion, such opening day. If he
a true poet he had the soul of
Holman S overloaded, covering the Senators for
both the Times and the Herald that the Herald hit the
idea of hiring Bob Consine to for it, leaving Holman
free to work for the Times
ConSdine worked out pretty well.
So did Joe Holman.