J. Alan Holman (1931–2006) was an American

paleontologist Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure geolo ...

herpetologist Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ...

, professor and Michigan State University Museum curator well known for his 1995 work called ''Pleistocene Amphibians and Reptiles in North America'' which was published by Oxford Press. He graduated from Franklin College,

Franklin, Indiana Franklin is a city in Johnson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 23,712 at the 2010 census. Located about south of Indianapolis, the city is the county seat of Johnson County. The site of Franklin College, the city attracts ...

in 1953 with a degree of "Distinction in Biology" and a passion for research and field work. He went on to earn his MS and PhD degrees from the

University of Florida at Gainesville The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the state. The univers ...

in 1957 and 1961, respectively. Holman spent his career as an educator and researcher. He was named Emeritus Professor of Geological Sciences and Zoology and Emeritus Curator of

Vertebrate Vertebrates () are animals with a vertebral column (backbone or spine), and a cranium, or skull. The vertebral column surrounds and protects the spinal cord, while the cranium protects the brain. The vertebrates make up the subphylum Vertebra ...

Paleontology at

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...

after retiring in 1997. He authored more than 260 publications in paleoherpetology, herpetology, and vertebrate paleontology and is considered the leading authority of New World fossil snakes. Holman authored twelve books, including two monographs (

Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( ; referred to colloquially as the ''ice age, Ice Age'') is the geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fin ...

Amphibians; Reptiles in North America; Pleistocene Amphibians; Reptiles in Britain and Europe) and field guides, such as: Michigan Snakes, Michigan Turtles, Lizards, Michigan Frogs, Toads and Salamanders. The book, ''The Michigan Roadside Naturalist'', was co-authored with Margaret B. "Peg" Holman, his wife. His accomplishment include, Honorary Lifetime membership in the

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) is a professional organization that was founded in the United States in 1940 to advance the science of vertebrate paleontology around the world. Mission and activities SVP has about 2,300 members inte ...

. Holman died at his cottage in Fife Lake, MI on August 12, 2006.Obituary
J. Alan Holman, professor emeritus at the MSU Museum, 1967-97, of East Lansing, August 12, age 74.
/ref> Holman died before finishing his new book, ''The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michigan''. His colleague and friend, Jim Harding, helped complete some details so the book could be published. ''The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michigan'', which includes 54 creatures, was included on the 2013 list of Michigan Notable Books—20 Michigan oriented books that include photography, poetry, memoirs, novels and reference works.

Gallery

File:Holman Dig 08.jpg, Holman Dig 08 File:Holman Dig 02.jpg, Holman Dig 02

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading