Remembering
Sheriff Burnett Holland
Written by Justin D. Lamb
J. Burnett Holland in his World War I uniform
September 1917
(Courtesy of West Kentucky Genealogy)
James Burnett Holland was born the son of George M. Holland and Florence Petway Holland on July 30, 1894 in the river town of Birmingham in eastern Marshall County. Holland’s childhood was typical of a western Kentucky boy with most days spent on the farm working alongside his parents. An avid sportsman, Holland spent his spare time playing basketball and baseball in several of the independent leagues throughout Marshall County. With little opportunity in Marshall County at the time, Holland enrolled at Bethel College in Russellville and later at Western Kentucky State Normal School (now Western Kentucky University) following his graduation from Birmingham School.
A young Burnett Holland (third from left in back row) pictured with his teammates of the Benton Independent Baseball team in 1915. Others are front row: C.W. “Bus” Creason, Tullus Black, Glen Ely, and Scott Ely. Back row: Clovis Chiles, Burnett Holland, Early Cross, and Joe Lovett.
By April of 1917, the world was vastly changing and the United States could no longer ignore the Great War which was tearing Europe apart. After a series of acts of aggression from Germany, including the sinking of American ships in the North Atlantic, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of “war to end all wars” which would in turn make “the world safe for democracy.” Congress voted to declare war on April 6, 1917 and many young boys and men all across the nation rushed to enlist. On August 8, 1917, Burnett Holland enlisted in the United States Army and was served in the 107th Squadron before being re-assigned to the 12th Balloon Company where he saw action overseas in France. Holland was part of the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in France and he later received a citation for bravery under fire from the Balloon Corps Commander.
Following his honorable discharge in April 1919, Holland returned home to Marshall County and married Keren Solomon, daughter of Charlie Solomon and Fannie Dycus Solomon. The couple had four children: Ruth Holland Chester, Robert Holland, Joe B. Holland, Charlie Holland, and Patricia Holland Frazier.
Holland spent the 1920s farming on his family farm in Birmingham before moving to Benton in 1930 to assume the role as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Louis Lilly. Holland declared his candidacy for High Sheriff in the 1933 Democratic Primary where the race featured five candidates including former sheriff Harry A. Miller of Calvert City, Elbert Inman of Fairdealing, Jack Edwards of Dogtown, and Sam H. Eley of Benton who served two terms as Tax Commissioner. With his military record, experience as deputy sheriff and the backing of outgoing sheriff Louis Lilly, Holland ran a strong race and carried 17 of the 21 precincts which garnered him 2,492 votes. Sheriff Holland was sworn in on January 1, 1934. Holland was staunchly anti-alcohol and he was one of the early pushers for making Marshall County “dry” in 1937. When illegal roadhouses began opening following the passage of the anti-alcohol law, Holland spent the remainder of his term trying to shut them down. Sheriff Holland was unable to run for a second consecutive term in 1938 due to Kentucky State Law at the time, so he returned to farming. Four years later in 1941, Holland ran for sheriff again and with the roadhouse issues still at center state, Holland made a strong race, but was unable to defeat J. Govie Smith for the job.
Following his defeat, Holland went to work for the Tennessee Valley Authority on the construction of Kentucky Dam. Holland later became a Kentucky Conservation Officer which he continued to do until his retirement in the 1960s.Holland was an avid sports fan having played basketball and baseball in his younger years. He followed Marshall County sports religiously, and in 1977 he was awarded the title, “Marshall County’s Number One Fan” by the Marshall County Athletic Association and he has recently been named a member of the 2016 class of the Marshall County Athletic Hall of Fame. Holland passed away on February 28, 1982 and was laid to rest at Marshall County Memory Gardens.
Sources:
History of Marshall County, Kentucky by Freeman and Olds, 1933
Burnett Holland Obituary, 1982
Marshall County Election Commissioner Reports, 1913-1938
Interview: Patricia (Holland) Frazier