Science talk memorializes late professor

James P. Holland and Homer A. Neal first crossed paths in the late 1950s when they were both IU students from the same small area of Kentucky. \nHolland was in graduate school; Neal was a freshman. Both faced the issues with which African-American students across the country were dealing: fear and hatred.\nDuring their years at IU, they shared rides back and forth to their homes in Kentucky.\n"Most of our interaction took place in that car," Neal said. "Together in the confines of the car, driving through a possibly hostile racial environment, we engaged in many deep discussions. Those trips prepared the groundwork for our many interactions."\nIn time, graduation day came for both men -- Holland graduated with a doctorate in endocrinology in 1961. The same year, Neal graduated with his bachelor's degree in physics. Neal continued his academic career at the University of Michigan, receiving a doctorate in physics.\nBoth returned to IU as faculty in the late 1960s, but Neal eventually took up a position at the University of Michigan. Holland served IU in many roles -- biology professor, recruiter and interim dean of the Graduate School. He taught more than 11,000 students in his career, which ended when he died of cancer in March of 1998.\n"Jim was to so many students an inspiration to aspire to greater heights," said Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis.\nNeal had his share of fame at the University of Michigan. A Michigan president emeritus, Neal now spends his time conducting research in high-energy physics at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva.\nHe returned to IU Monday to present the inaugural lecture of the James P. Holland Memorial Lecture Series. About 300 people gathered to hear the lecture, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Development and Diversity, the office of Multicultural Affairs and the biology department. The series will feature a speaker each year. \nNeal spoke about his memories of Holland, and on his topic, "Science in the New Millennium." \n"Jim would be more than pleased by the way his legacy is being commemorated at IU," said Constance Holland, his widow.\nConstance Holland was on hand to receive the Chancellor's Medallion from Gros Louis for her late husband. The award was given at a dinner in 1998, but at the time the actual medal had not been struck.\n"Jim was the first recipient to ever receive the Chancellor's medallion...," Gros Louis said. "I'm pleased to give Connie the medallion in memory of Jim."\nConstance Holland also had surprises on hand for several charities her husband had contributed to. She paid the remaining amount on her husband's $5,000 pledge to the Neal Marshall Fund, an endowment for the sciences. She also finished her husband's pledge to the Biology Enrichment Fund and donated to the James P. Holland Fellowship.\nThe fellowship, created in 1998 by the biology department, gives money to a first-year graduate student of the sciences whose ethnicity is underrepresented in the field of life sciences. The endowment provides stipend, tuition and health insurance during the first year of graduate training.\n"We in biology couldn't imagine a better way to remember Jim Holland than establishing a graduate fellowship in his name," said Jeff Palmer, chairman of the biology department.\nMore than 40 years after meeting, Neal was able to honor his friend's legacy and accomplishments and also encourage students to pursue a career in science.\n"Never think life as a scientist need be dull," he said.