Holyoke, Edward A, 1908-2001

Biography

Edward A. Holyoke was born in Madrid, Nebraska on March 10, 1908, son of Edward A. and Mary (Holdrege) Holyoke. He attended Chadron State Teachers College from 1925-1926. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska in 1930. He received an M.A. degree in Anatomy in 1932, an M.D. degree in 1934, and a Ph.D. in Anatomy in 1938, all from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. In 1940, Holyoke married Lois Carse; they had two children, Edward A. Jr., and Thomas T. Holyoke. He was a member of the Nebraska State Guard from 1943 to 1945. Lois Holyoke died in 1976, and Dr. Holyoke was remarried to Francis Lewis of Omaha in 1981.

Holyoke spent his entire academic career at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He was appointed Instructor in Anatomy in 1932. He was named an Assistant Professor of Anatomy in 1938. In 1941 he was appointed Associate Professor of Anatomy. He was named Professor of Anatomy in 1946. In 1960 he became Chairman of the Department of Anatomy, and he remained in that position until 1973, when he relinquished the chairmanship of the department. He remained on the faculty as a Professor of Anatomy, and was named Professor Emeritus in 1983. He retired from the faculty in 1995.

He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Anatomists, the Anatomical Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Midwest Anatomists Association, which he served as president in 1969. He was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, and was president of the Nebraska Chapter in 1943, and again in 1974- 1975; and also a member of Sigma Xi, and was president of the Nebraska Chapter in 1960. He was also a member of the Nebraska Academy of Science, the History of Medicine Association, the Medical Amateur Radio Council, as well as the American Association of Anatomists, which appointed him to the History Committee; and the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, which appointed him to the Policy Committee.

Holyoke was named an Outstanding Educator of America in 1972; and received a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1973, as well as the Citation for Meritorious Service in 1980, both from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He served as an officer and board member of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine Alumni Association from the 1940s until the late 1980s, primarily as secretary and treasurer. He was secretary and treasurer of the C. W. M. Poynter Foundation since 1950. He was a member of several community and civic organizations, including the Westerners International, Omaha Lens-And-Shutter Club, Cornhusker Radio Club, and the Omaha Astronomy Club.

He wrote extensively and was a contributing author to several anatomy textbooks. He is the author of and/or contributor to numerous articles in professional publications and journals, and presented papers at many scientific conferences.

Dr. Holyoke died on August 20, 2001, in Omaha.

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