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1 State of Arkansas
2 95th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2026  SMR 6
4
5 By: Senator Hester
6
7
8SENATE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
9IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY OF LEGENDARY COLLEGE FOOTBALL
10COACH LOUIS LEO "LOU" HOLTZ FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE
11UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE, THE STATE OF
12ARKANSAS, AND THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.
13
14
15Subtitle
16IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY OF LEGENDARY
17COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH LOUIS LEO "LOU"
18HOLTZ FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY
19OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE, THE STATE
20OF ARKANSAS, AND THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.
21
22WHEREAS, legendary college football coach Louis Leo “Lou” Holtz,
23 formerly associated with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, passed away
24 on March 4, 2026, at the age of eighty-nine (89); and
25
26WHEREAS, Coach Holtz was born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West
27 Virginia, the son of a bus driver, and rose from humble beginnings to become
28 one of the most successful and motivational figures in the history of
29 American college football; and
30
31WHEREAS, after a collegiate playing career and early coaching stops,
32 including a brief and challenging stint as head coach of the New York Jets of
33 the National Football League, Coach Holtz arrived at the University of
34 Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1977 as the successor to legendary athletic
35 director and former coach Frank Broyles; and
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1      WHEREAS, during his seven (7) seasons as head football coach of the
2 Arkansas Razorbacks from 1977 to 1983, Coach Holtz compiled an outstanding
3 record of sixty (60) wins, twenty-one (21) losses, and two (2) ties, leading
4 the Razorbacks to six (6) consecutive bowl games and four (4) Top 10 final
5 rankings; and
6
7      WHEREAS, in his first season, the 1977 Razorbacks achieved an eleven
8 and one (11–1) record and defeated the heavily favored number two (2) ranked
9 Oklahoma Sooners thirty-one to six (31–6) in the 1978 Orange Bowl, one of the
10 most memorable upsets in Arkansas football history; and
11
12      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz’s team shared the Southwest Conference
13 championship in 1979 with the Houston Cougars; and
14
15      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz consistently emphasized discipline, fundamentals,
16 and mental toughness and instilled a winning culture that elevated the
17 profile of Razorback football across the nation; and
18
19      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz was known for his fiery motivational style, his
20 famous quotes such as “Do what’s right, do the best you can, and show people
21 you care,” and his ability to get the absolute maximum effort from his
22 players; and
23
24      WHEREAS, after leaving Arkansas, Coach Holtz went on to coach at the
25 University of Minnesota; the University of Notre Dame du Lac, where he led
26 the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship with a perfect twelve
27 and zero (12–0) season; and the University of South Carolina, becoming the
28 only coach in major college football history to lead six (6) different
29 programs to bowl games and four (4) different programs to final Top 20
30 rankings; and
31
32      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of
33 Fame in 2008 and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and received the
34 Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020 in recognition of his lifetime
35 achievements and positive influence on American sports and culture; and
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1      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz was a devoted husband to his late wife Beth Barcus
2 Holtz, who he was married to from 1961–2020; a loving father to four (4)
3 children, Luanne, Lou "Skip", who also became a successful football coach,
4 Kevin, and Elizabeth; and a proud grandfather; and
5
6      WHEREAS, throughout his life and career, Coach Holtz remained a friend
7 to the Razorbacks, often speaking fondly of his time in Fayetteville and
8 never picking against the Razorbacks; and
9
10      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz’s impact on the University of Arkansas and the
11 State of Arkansas extended far beyond the football field, inspiring
12 generations of student-athletes, fans, and Arkansans with his emphasis on
13 perseverance, character, and excellence; and
14
15      WHEREAS, Coach Holtz was a man of deep and abiding faith in Jesus
16 Christ, which he credited as the foundation of his coaching philosophy and
17 the source of his strength, character, and commitment to serving others
18 throughout his life; and
19
20      WHEREAS, former players, colleagues, and fans across Arkansas and the
21 nation have expressed profound gratitude for the leadership, discipline, and
22 unforgettable memories he provided during his tenure as head coach of the
23 Razorbacks,
24
25 NOW THEREFORE,
26 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
27 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
28
29      THAT the Senate remember and honor legendary college football coach Lou
30 Holtz for his outstanding contributions to the University of Arkansas
31 Razorbacks, the State of Arkansas, and the sport of football.
32
33 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be
34 presented to the family of Coach Lou Holtz by the Secretary of the Senate.
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