Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
John Hollander
Baseball and Football
Inducted: 1982
Johnny Hollander '28 received letters in both football and baseball at Gustavus. He played football from 1925-27 and started as a running back but became quarterback in the middle of the '26 season. The '26 team was the first undefeated and conference championship team. He was captain of the '27 championship team and was named All-State quarterback that year. He played third base on the baseball teams of 1926-28. He was co-captain of the '27 team and captain of the '28 team; both of these teams were conference champions.
Following graduation he became athletic director and coach of the football and basketball teams of the Worthington School District, a position he held until becoming high school principal in Adrian in 1936. In 1937, he started a 4-year tenure as Superintendent of Schools in Adrian and then served the following schools as superintendent: Lindstrom-Center City from 1941-46, Spring Valley from 1946-52, and Bayport from 1952-56. In 1956, he became elementary principal in Stillwater and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1967.
He received his master's degree in education from Univ. of Minn., and during his career has been very involved in community and professional organizations.
He is a 30-year member of Lions Clubs International, an active member of People's Congregational Church in Bayport and also serves on the Library Board in that community. In addition, he is a volunteer in service to senior citizens as an income tax consultant. He served on the combined community and school recreation dept. committee in Stillwater and was president of the Kiwanis Club in Spring Valley.
John and his wife Ann, who live in Bayport, have a daughter JoAnn and son John.