Son of Jerome “Brud” Holland, a College Football Hall of Fame running back at Cornell from 1936-38, Joe Holland also tore up the record books for the Big Red under College Football Hall of Fame coach Bob Blackman. In 1978, he ranked in the top-10 nationally and first in the Ivy League in rush attempts (273), rushing yards (1,396), yards per attempt (5.1), rushing touchdowns (16), plays from scrimmage (283) and yards from scrimmage (1,427). The team leader in rushing yards and scoring in 1978, Holland joined Hall of Famer Ed Marinaro as the only running back with multiple 200-yard, four-touchdown games in school history. Holland’s 263-yard performance in a 35-17 win over Penn ranks fourth in Cornell’s record book. A Third Team All-America and First Team All-Ivy selection, he set a school record for rushing attempts in a game (55) and ranks eighth in school history in career rushing yards (1,755) and career rushing touchdowns (18). Holland was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1991.
A two-time First Team Academic All-American, Holland compiled a 3.67 GPA in history and English and was a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Quill and Dagger. A member of the Dean’s List for five semesters, he was given the Victor Grohmann Scholar-Athlete Award as the team’s most outstanding scholar-athlete. Holland was the founding member and chairman of the Black Athletic Association and served as a student representative for the Committee for International Student Affairs and the Committee on Special Education Projects.
Holland is a real estate developer, ordained minister, Harlem-based attorney and civic leader with 25 years of experience working in prominent organizations in law, business and government. As President of Holland Horizon Group, a developer of mixed-use, church-affiliated real estate projects, he will soon complete The Lenox, the first large, unsubsidized, residential condominium in Harlem. After earning his J.D. from Harvard, Holland relocated to Harlem where he established a real estate law practice and a holistic outreach ministry. He became legal counsel to Christ Community Church of Harlem and was ordained by its pastor, the late Rev. Linnette Williamson. He served as co-pastor and started Harkhomes, a shelter for homeless men. Stemming from his work with the homeless, Holland conceived Holistic Hardware, a life and job skills program for restoring lives in crisis.
Holland also served in government, beginning as Director and General Counsel to the New York State Senate Committee on Housing and Community Development. He was subsequently New York State Housing Commissioner, where he managed more than 1,500 employees and orchestrated the planning and funding of thousands of units of affordable housing in various locations across New York State. Holland has been active as a spokesman for the Verizon's Life's Playbook program, speaking at high schools, business forums and educational conferences across the United States about success strategies for today's youth.
Holland served on Cornell's Board of Trustees for 12 years before being appointed Trustee Emeritus. He has received awards and honors for both his business and social service accomplishments. In 2006, he was recognized by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce with its annual Community Service Award. In 1993, President Bill Clinton recognized Holland in a White House ceremony for his community-building initiatives. In 1992, the United States Small Business Administration named him Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year for New York State. In 1991, Holland was honored with President George Bush's Volunteer Action Award and with New York City's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has also received an honorary degree from the City University of New York Law School.
