Ralph M. Holman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph M. Holman
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| 74th Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1965–1980 |
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| Preceded by | George Rossman |
| Succeeded by | Jacob Tanzer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 7, 1914 Portland, Oregon |
| Died | September 3, 2013 (aged 99) Salem, Oregon |
| Spouse | Louise Oesch Holman |
Ralph Milo Holman (born June 7, 1914 – died September 3, 2013) was an important lawyer and judge in Oregon, United States. He became the 74th justice (a type of judge) on the Oregon Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the state. Before that, he was a judge for Clackamas County, Oregon. His great uncle, Rufus C. Holman, was a United States Senator.
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Early Life and Education
Ralph Holman was born in Portland, Oregon, on June 7, 1914. His family had lived in Oregon for many generations. He grew up in Molalla, Oregon, a town southeast of Portland. He went to elementary school there and graduated from Molalla High School in 1932.
During the Great Depression, a time when many people struggled to find work, Ralph worked as a clerk. He helped process checks for people needing financial aid. At night, he studied law at the Northwestern College of Law in Portland. This school is now known as Lewis & Clark Law School. In 1937, he earned his law degree and became a lawyer. He started practicing law in Oregon City, Oregon.
Military Service in World War II
Ralph Holman joined the United States Navy during World War II. He served from 1942 to 1946. During his time in the Navy, he was injured in an accident and lost part of his left leg. He was discharged from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer.
Becoming a Judge
After World War II, Ralph Holman returned to Oregon. In 1950, Governor Douglas McKay appointed him as a judge for the Clackamas County Circuit Court. A circuit court is where many types of legal cases are first heard. He served as a circuit court judge for 15 years, until 1965.
While he was a circuit court judge, he worked on a committee that looked at how justice was handled in Oregon. He also led a group that focused on laws for young people.
Serving on the Oregon Supreme Court
In 1964, Ralph Holman was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court. This is the highest court in Oregon, similar to how the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. He took the place of Justice George Rossman.
In 1967, he was a special judge at New York University School of Law. This was a special honor given to judges who hear appeals. His fellow judges asked him to create a plan for a new court in Oregon. This plan led to the creation of the Oregon Court of Appeals in 1969. This new court helps handle many of the appeals cases.
Holman was re-elected to the Supreme Court two more times, in 1970 and 1976. He decided to retire early from the court in 1979, saying he was getting older. His retirement became official on January 20, 1980. He had served as a judge in Oregon for 30 years.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1937, Ralph Holman married Louise Mariam Oesch. She passed away in 1989. They did not have any children.
Even after retiring, Holman continued to be involved in the legal community. He was a Life Trustee at Lewis & Clark College, which is where he went to law school. He received special awards from the college and its law school. He also helped with the law school's budget for many years.
For the rest of his life, Holman could be called upon to serve as a "senior judge." This meant the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court could ask him to help out temporarily when needed.
In 2005, when he was 91 years old, Ralph Holman and his family created a scholarship. The Holman Family Scholarship helps students who graduate from Molalla High School, his old high school. In 2007, the Clackamas County Courthouse opened a new part called the Ralph M. Holman Law Center. This new center has offices for court staff, rooms for juries, and a law library.
Ralph Holman loved to fish, especially fly fishing. This hobby took him to many places around the world, including South America and Asia. He and his wife also enjoyed collecting art and antiques, and they loved growing roses. Ralph Holman passed away at his home in Salem, Oregon, on September 3, 2013, at the age of 99.
