ASU alum, class of '28, returns to campus

By By Sherry F. Pruitt, The Jonesboro Sun

JONESBORO — Arkansas State alumnus Leemon K. “L.K.” Holt, 100, was on the campus recently to have his photograph made at the historic arch for the College of Agriculture newsletter.

Holt is the oldest living agriculture student, said Dr. David Agnew, associate professor of agricultural education.

Holt graduated from Arkansas State in 1928 and also attended high school on campus, his daughter-in-law Linda Holt said.

But what’s got the campus community talking is that Holt and his best friend, the late Andrew Easton, helped construct the historic arch on the ASU campus. The two, students at the time, assisted the National Guard unit in building the arch. Easton later was elected as Craighead County tax collector.

Holt was born in 1908 into a farm family near Ash Flat and graduated from the eighth grade at Bay in 1922.

“He tried attending Jonesboro High School, but didn’t fit in with the city kids.’ It was then he enrolled in Arkansas A&M High School Program” on the Arkansas State campus, according to information provided by Agnew. “He graduated from high school in 1926 and then graduated with his 2-year degree’ in 1928.”

Holt realized his mother’s dream for him to receive a college education.

“Mr. Holt was determined. Most times, he and his buddy, Mr. Easton, walked the 6- to 8-mile railroad tracks from Bay to Jonesboro ... Sometimes they rode the train, and sometimes, they drove,” according to Agnew’s research. “When L.K. drove his Model T, there was no campus parking. He parked his car at a boarding house (where he sometimes spent the night) on the corner of Nettleton and Main and walked to school. The house still stands today.”

Holt, who carried 21 hours, told Agnew that he “went to study, not to play.”

Following Holt’s 1928 graduation, he taught elementary school at Bay for two years until the Great Depression, and Bay was unable to pay its teachers $70 per month, Agnew’s research shows.

“Instead, they paid their faculty with IOUs. The Darde School District, which later consolidated with Manila, announced an agriculture education position that paid $75 cash on the barrel,”’ according to the information. “Mr. Holt took that position, and soon started the first Manila FFA chapter and remained for the next 41 years.”

He taught adult education classes to World War II veterans and earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville during the summers between 1930 and 1945. Holt taught agriculture for 43 years.

He married in 1931, and he and his wife had nine children, three of whom attended Arkansas State. He has 30 grandchildren, and nine of them attended A-State.

Granddaughter Jennifer Barber Cook was the first female FFA state president in Arkansas.

Holt also has 50 great-grandchildren, four of whom have attended or are enrolled at ASU. One of them, Madison Roddy, a freshman nursing major of Jonesboro, was attending classes on Tuesday.

She stopped by and had her photograph made with her great-grandfather.

Roddy’s grandfather on the other side of her family, Winslow W.W.’ Trent, helped refurbish the historic arch, she said.

Holt also has 10 great-great-grandchildren.

When Agnew asked Holt if he had advice for current College of Agriculture undergraduates and graduate students, he said, “Work hard and save your money.”

Dec. 30 will be Holt’s 101st birthday.

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