Last week, the Fraternity lost a titan of industry when Ambassador Glen Holden, Oregon ’51, died at the age of 96.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Holden pursued higher education at the University of Oregon, where he met his beloved wife, Gloria – a sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma – and was initiated into Beta Theta Pi on September 29, 1946.
Holden began a career in insurance from graduation, eventually pioneering the variable annuity and many other innovative products that were subsequently adopted by most major life insurance companies. He formed Security First Group in 1973 and later became founder, chairman and CEO of The Holden Group.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush, with bipartisan support, appointed Holden as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, where he played a key role in formulating U.S. policy in the Caribbean. He later became a 14-year chair of American Friends of Jamaica.
For his business and government achievements, he received the Oxford Cup on February 29, 1988. He was particularly close with fellow insurance executive and Oxford Cup honoree Harold Hook, Missouri ’53. As a Fraternity volunteer, Holden led his chapter’s house corporation, chaired a successful renovation fund drive and was a major benefactor of the Beta Foundation.
Among other roles, Holden served as governor of the U.S. Polo Association and on the boards of the Los Angeles Council of Boy Scouts, California Chamber of Commerce, California Museum Foundation, Music Center of Los Angeles County, Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation, University of Oregon Foundation and Pepperdine University. His alma mater’s Holden Leadership Center, which houses the university’s Greek Life Office, is named for Glen and Gloria following a major gift to endow it.
May Brother Glen Holden, Roll No. 563 of the Beta Rho Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, rest in peace. Forever in ___kai___.
