Julius Holt, a substantial member of the Tucson community since his playing days with the Arizona football program in the early 1980s, has passed away at age 60.
Holt died early Monday morning with his family by his side — wife Lisa, son Justin and daughter Julia.
He was stricken with pneumonia and passed away after being hospitalized since early last week. Suffering from heart problems in the past, and wearing a pacemaker, Holt was placed on a ventilator in an intensive-care unit.
Many in the Southern Arizona community offered their well-wishes and prayers on social media upon learning the news of his health status.
Julius was excited about the prospect of Julia, a senior at Canyon del Oro High School, signing with Howard University on a softball scholarship and being able to play where he was born — Washington, D.C. He talked about looking forward to watching her play there with some of his family who are in D.C.
“I am proud of her and very happy she is going to a university like Howard,” Julius told me. “It’s a great opportunity for her and our family.”
His son Justin was a standout lineman at Salpointe Catholic who played in 2016 and 2017 at Arizona, wearing the No. 50 Julius wore with the Wildcats, before he was forced to medically retire from football because of concussion problems.
Julius became the president of the Tucson Youth Football and Spirit Federation in 2013, an organization he viewed as being much like the Boys and Girls Club back in D.C. during his childhood. Julius also worked as a high school counselor and program coordinator for middle school sports at Tucson Unified School District.
He was inducted in the American Youth Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
After resigning as the TYFSF president, he mentioned one of his objectives was to become a motivational speaker for youths in Southern Arizona.
Holt’s life before coming to Arizona to play for Larry Smith in 1981 could have derailed many times, starting when he was growing up in the projects of Washington, D.C. His parents died within a month of each other while he was in the fifth grade. His parents Bernard Holt and Mary Holt remained neighbors after they divorced. Bernard lived at 1103 R Street, and Julius and many of his nine brothers and one sister stayed with his mom at 1105 R Street.
“When my mom had a problem, she would just knock on the wall and my dad would come over,” Julius said in a 2020 interview.
Bernard served in World War II and played baseball in the Negro League. Upholding the family name with class left a mark on Julius.
“My dad was one of the sharpest dressed people I …….