W. M. Holland

William Meredith Holland (March 29, 1875 – March 11, 1966), attorney and judge, was mayor of Dallas in 1911–15.

William Meredith Holland
Mayor of Dallas, Texas
In office
1911–1915
Preceded byStephen J. Hay
Succeeded byHenry D. Lindsley
Personal details
Born(1875-03-29)March 29, 1875
Dallas, Texas
DiedMarch 11, 1966(1966-03-11) (aged 90)
Dallas, Texas
Resting placeOakland Cemetery, Dallas
Spouse(s)Frances Elnora Beggs
ChildrenVirginia Saffel Holland, Sarah Holland, Kathryn Holland
Alma materUniversity of Texas, George Washington University School of Law
OccupationAttorney, Judge

Biography

William Meredith Holland was born March 29, 1875, in Dallas, Texas to William Colter Holland and Sarah Jones Saffell. He married Frances Elnora Beggs, daughter of Hamilton T. Beggs, Jr., and Virginia Dunnavant on 24 Jun 1909 in Dallas, Texas. They had three children: Virginia Saffel Holland, Sarah Holland, and Kathryn Holland.

He attended the University of Texas and Georgetown University Law School. He returned to Dallas where he practices law with the firm of Belsterling & Holland and later Holland, Bartlett, and Thornton. From 1907 to 1911, he served as a judge for the county court at law.

He was elected mayor in 1911; the first Dallas-born individual to become mayor of Dallas. During his term of service, a meningitis epidemic ravaged the city. The city built Parkland Hospital, a city hall building, White Rock Lake and the first sewage and water purification plants. After serving two terms as mayor, he returned to the practice of law.

In 1921 he was elected president of the Dallas Railway Company and was also vice-president of Mercantile Bank & Trust.[1][2][3][4]

Among his many interests and endeavors was control of the Trinity River, building the Masonic Temple, a park system, removing the tracks from Pacific Avenue and Central Boulevard. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Hella Shrine Temple. William Holland died March 11, 1966, in Dallas, Texas and was interred at Oakland Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.[5]

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References
  1. "Former Mayor of Dallas Is Elected President of Dallas Railway." The Dallas Morning News. December 9, 1921, p. 4
  2. 1923 Dallas City Directory. John F Worley Directory Co., p. 1549.
  3. "Judge Holland Dies at 90." The Dallas Morning News. March 12, 1966,p. 1D
  4. "President Helped Elect Judge Holland." The Dallas Morning News. March 12, 1966, p. 14A
  5. Texas State Board of Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Standard Certificate of Death. No. 15088
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