Harry H. Hollis, Jr., aged 97, died March 31, 2012, in Bloomingdiana, after a brief illness. He was born April 16, 1914, to Mary Alice (Taylor) and Harry H. Hollis, Sr., in Indianapolis. He graduated from Warren Central H.S. where he became an Eagle Scout and set a broad jump record which lasted 25 years. He graduated from Purdue University in Civil Engineering, and was a founding member of a chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, and later became the national president. He ran track and field, frequently competing against the legendary Jesse Owens in Big Ten meets. Harry began work at Indiana Bell Telephone Co. in 1936, moving to Bloomington in 1957 and retiring in 1975. His work was interrupted in 1942 by his enlistment in the Army of the U.S. He served in the South Pacific, especially in Okinawa and South Korea. He married Jeanette Barnett of Indianapolis in 1943. Harry’s civic activities included the Monroe Co. Humane Assoc., the Hoosier Environmental Council, the Hoosier National Forest Network, and Sycamore Land Trust. With his wife, he received awards for outstanding conservation efforts from the Citizens Concerned about Nebo Ridge Assoc., Sassafras Audubon Society, Sierra Club – Hoosier Chapter, and the Hoosier Environmental Council. In 2009, Harry received the Lifetime Conservation Award from the Sycamore Land Trust. Harry wrote many letters to the editor of the Bloomington Herald Times and has been called “the environmental conscience of this community.” He was an active member of First Baptist-United Church of Christ, (1st United Church) in Bloomington since 1959. Harry was pre-deceased by his wife of 62 years. He is survived by daughters, Janet (Ron Selby) of Zionsville, Susan (John Bassett) of Bloomington, and Martha (Patrick DuCharme) of Madison, WI, grandchildren, Laura Selby, Ryan Bassett and Chris and Ben DuCharme. Harry was a wonderful person, an example to many, and beloved by all. Memorial service: First United Church, 2420 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, at 10 am on Sat. April 7th. Visitation: The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. 3rd St., 4-8 pm on Friday, April 6th. Private graveside service: Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Hoosier Environmental Council, Sycamore Land Trust or the Monroe County Humane Assoc.

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