Mr. Thomas Dixon Holladay Jr.

On Monday, August 22, 2016, Thomas Dixon Holladay, Jr., 90, in Allegheny General Hospital. He was born on February 27, 1926 in Nashville, TN to Thomas Dixon Holladay and Elsie Gross Holladay. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Virginia, and loving father to Marcie H. Zebley (Michael) and Thomas D. Holladay, III (Martha). He was also a devoted grandfather to Kurt R. Zebley, Jenay M. Terrill, Kyle A. Zebley, and Heather N. Holladay and had 5 great-grandchildren as well. He was the brother of the late E. Russell Holladay (Eva) of Atlanta, GA, and Anabel H. Cunningham of Macon, GA and is also survived by his father’s widow Harriet Holladay of Jacksonville, FL and several nieces and nephews. A member of the “greatest generation”, when WWII broke out, he attended summer school so that he was able to graduate from high school at age 16. He then attended Vanderbilt University and while there he was employed at age 17 by The Nashville Tennessean as a full time police reporter. This experience was most helpful in his selection for OCS and commission as second lieutenant in the Army at age 18 during WWII. His Army service continued through the Korean War and then he transferred to the Army Reserves, serving until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1986. His civic contributions included Trustee Emeritus (former Chairman, Strategic Planning Committee and member, Executive Committee) of Point Park University, Member and Former Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Guild for the Blind, and Insurance consultant pro bono to Carnegie Institute and Carnegie Library (1975-1995). Dixon began his insurance career early in 1954 with Miami General Insurance Agency and two years later joined national insurance brokerage firm Alexander & Alexander in their Atlanta office. He was active in production, account service, and management in Atlanta, Miami, and Philadelphia before moving to the Pittsburgh region in 1970 as Managing Vice President and as Director of A&A’s West Virginia corporation. In 1975, he acquired ownership of Tucker, Johnston, and Smelzer, Inc., a well established insurance brokerage in Pittsburgh consisting primarily of commercial clients. T,J,&S was affiliated with well known brokerage firms across the country. Dixon sold the firm to two outstanding senior officers when he retired in 1994. Dixon had been a resident of Arden Courts, a memory care facility in North Hills, since October, 2014. Friends will be received Friday, August 26, 2016 from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. at Simons Funeral Home, Inc., 7720 Perry Hwy., Pgh, PA 15237. Contributions may be made to the Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pgh, 1816 Locust St., Pgh, PA 15219.

Mr. Thomas Dixon Holladay Jr.

February 27, 1926 - August 22, 2016