Independent higher education lost one of its great champions on February 11, when cancer claimed the life of Howard Emory Holcomb, CIC's long-time government relations counsel.
    For more than 50 years—from his undergraduate days at Gustavus Adolphus College (MN), until retiring as a consultant to CIC last year—Holcomb led the way in the fight to publicly acknowledge and legislatively recognize the contributions made by private colleges to the American national system of higher education.
    Born of Swedish parents in 1924 in Swea City, Iowa, Holcomb volunteered for the U.S. Navy in World War II, at age 17. After the war, and after graduating from Gustavus, he served the college as director of admissions until 1967, when he accepted the positions of executive secretary, Lutheran Educational Conference of North America, Washington, D.C., and associate executive secretary, Division of Educational Services, Lutheran Council in the USA.
    His next job was as director of federal relations with the Association of American Colleges, where he was also staff director of the National Council of Independent Colleges and Universities. NCICU was the first gathering place for state associations to legislatively champion federal aid to students in private and independent colleges and universities. In the landmark 1972 amendments to the Higher Education Act, Holcomb led the state associations in advocating the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (known today as the Pell Grants), when many others in the higher education lobby were trying to quash the idea in favor of direct aid to institutions. Today Pell Grants provide $1.6 billion annually to private college students.
    In 1974 Holcomb served as the president of the Committee for Education Funding, and in 1976-77 he was director of the Education Study Group of the Commission on Federal Paperwork. Since that time, Holcomb worked as an individual consultant. His clients included associations of Lutheran, Methodist, and chiropractic colleges, as well as CIC.
    Howard is survived by his wife, Hildegard, a daughter, two sons, and two grandchildren. The Holcomb family requests that contributions in Howard's honor be made to the American Cancer Society at 11331 Amherst Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20902.

"One of a Kind"
Several of Howard Holcomb's colleagues took pause to remember his life and work:

"Howard was a passionate believer in the virtues of small, independent colleges and universities, and he spent most of his life as one of their staunchest advocates. Howard had a rare gift of being able to scan the landscape of higher education and legislation with the keenest of eyes and, unfailingly, provide penetrating insights. Throughout the 15 years I knew him professionally, he was a trusted confidant and reliable sounding board. "
—Allen P. Splete, President Emeritus, CIC

"Howard Holcomb was my friend for 28 years going on forever. Like some avuncular being who would suddenly materialize with everyone's definition of the warmth of human friendship. He was "Scandinavian bright"—that is, he talked in very short paragraphs and then he listened, he reassured, he comforted, and he made friends. Fast friends. With everyone. I remember the time when I was working for the Administration and Howard was lobbying for the SPLAC's (Small Private Liberal Arts Colleges) to undo what I was trying to do. He almost took my leg off right around the armpits, but he did it in such a nice, reassuring way that it was OK. I had done my job and Howard had done his. It wasn't a matter of winning or losing because, under Howard's kind tutelage, we had become friends. And Howard made sure that all the SPLAC Presidents that he had unleashed on me would be my friends, too. That's what Howard did."
—John Phillips, Founding President, NAICU

"Howard Holcomb was an original. He understood in a very immediate and personal way the life of independent residential colleges. He was keenly aware of the daily pressures felt by presidents, and of their need for appropriate assistance from the federal government. Much of our success today with Pell Grants, federal loans and regulatory relief can be traced back to Howard's political wisdom and legislative acumen. We have lost a great friend and colleague."
—David Warren, President, NAICU

"Howard was a most effective liaison with the U.S. Congress because of his wide experience and wonderfully intuitive political skills. I doubt very much that the Pell Grants would have come into being were it not for his careful steering of the legislation. He worked hard and made good things happen. We will miss him.
—Dorothy I. MacConkey, President Emerita, Davis & Elkins College

"Howard was a dear friend, trusted ally, and proud Minnesotan. He had another discipline that set him apart from most of his peers—he reported what he heard and observed, not what he thought his clients wanted to hear. This disciplined approach and the clarity of his analyses made him very special in a noisy marketplace and sometimes outright dangerous."
—David Laird, President, Minnesota Private College Council

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Last updated: May 28, 2001
Copyright © 2001 The Council of Independent Colleges