With great sadness, we announce the passing of Joe Hollman, founder of Hollman Inc. and Keyless.Co. Joe passed away surrounded by family at his home in Dallas, Texas on January 26, 2023.
A Portland, Oregon native, Joe Hollman was a natural innovator and pioneer of the locker industry. He often summed up his goals with one sentence – “reach out and touch perfection in something you love to do.”
Joe was known for his many extraordinary adventures in life. After serving as a US Army Platoon Leader in Vietnam, he left the military with only $3,000 in his pocket that he won from a card game. Upon returning to Oregon, he began working as a home builder. After completing 500 homes, developing 100+ acres of land, and 20+ acres of commercial property, Joe learned and appreciated the value of quality construction and carried that into his next venture.
A true problem solver, Joe combined his knowledge of building with his passion for fitness and racquetball. With just one employee building racquetball courts in Oregon, Joe founded Hollman, Inc. in 1976. This move launched Joe’s first invention, the panelized court wall system. The revolutionary panel changed how we build courts today, accounting for more than 97% of racquetball and squash courts in the US at the height of the sport. But Joe didn’t stop there. With his love for fitness, he built the first of four racquetball fitness clubs in Oregon.
Sensing a need in the industry, Hollman expanded into the locker business in 1985 and relocated the family operation to Dallas, Texas in 1991. From early on, the innovation and passion of the Hollman team were unmatched, bringing new inventions, materials, and innovative lock solutions to the locker industry. Joe’s dedication and relentless drive contributed to building Hollman, Inc. into the world’s largest manufacturer of courts and wood lockers. To date, Joe Hollman’s locker and woodworking inventions hold numerous # patents that remain the most popular locker door selection in the resort and country club industry.
Never a man to sit stagnantly, Joe then turned his attention to developing the perfect combination lock. In 2012, Joe created Keyless.Co. and released its first mechanical lock. The iconic Keyless combination lock quickly became one of the most widely used locking solutions for the fitness industry worldwide.
Throughout his life, Joe prioritized sharing his success by giving back to the community. He has funded an endowed scholarship at the University of Portland, hosted educational events, provided financial donations to Jesuit – Portland High School to help fund renovations for their athletic field and cafeteria, gifted two renovations of the Chiles Center locker rooms, and supported three orphanages in Thailand.
Joe led with a greater purpose and meaning, constantly reminding those around him that:
“There are three things we must live for: to know, love, and serve. We must work consistently to know and love ourselves and our Creator and strive to serve others, to help and support them. By this, we honor and celebrate the Creator of all that is.”
From all of us at Hollman Inc., Joe, we will miss you greatly. Your legacy will live on in our hearts and continued success of Hollman, Inc. As Joe would say – “onward and upward,” forever more.
In Lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate you honor Joe with a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. Donate Here https://4agc.com/donation_pages/b61e3e9b-7044-4123-a746-9bef35c0a4ec
Project Details
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