John Holmes, son of Harry Holmes, dies
He was president of Harry & David, named for his father and uncle, for nearly 20 years
July 03, 2010
John R.H. Holmes, who served as president of Harry & David for nearly 20 years until the company was sold in the 1980s, died June 23 in Reno, Nev.
According to the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office, Holmes died of natural causes. He was 67 years old, officials said.
Holmes was the son of Harry Holmes — the "Harry" in Harry & David. He took over as president of the mail-order fruit business in 1968, after David Holmes Jr. stepped down from active management.
Holmes formed Bear Creek Corp. as an umbrella organization for the company's numerous functions in 1972. He took the company public in 1976.
In a history written by the company, Holmes is described as a media-shy figure who managed the company during an era of rapid growth.
The company credits him with computerizing operations for processing orders, bookkeeping and developing the practice of direct mailing of its products.
John Fox, who worked under Holmes, praised him for his dedication to the company his family started from scratch.
"It was a very well-run company under John," Fox said.
Ron Meyer, owner of Meyer Orchards in Talent, said he respected Holmes, even though the two were competitors in the local fruit market.
"We were friendly competitors," Meyer said. "I have (Harry & David) orchards on three sides of me and I never had a problem with the company when (Holmes) was there — still don't."
Meyer said Holmes represents a generation of Southern Oregon businessmen gone by.
"He ran a first-class operation," Meyer said.
Holmes left Harry & David just after the company was sold to R.J. Reynolds Development Corp. in 1986. The food and tobacco conglomerate bought the company for $74 million.
Following the sale, Holmes moved to Alaska, the state of his birth.
At some point he started the Washington-based investment business Ice Bear Inc. According to a 1989 Mail Tribune story, Holmes then owned a 123-foot yacht named the Ice Bear.
Holmes contributed to Medford's development 30 years ago by donating nearly 20 acres of land near Hoover Elementary School to the city. The land became known as Holmes Park.
He was president of Harry & David, named for his father and uncle, for nearly 20 years
July 03, 2010
John R.H. Holmes, who served as president of Harry & David for nearly 20 years until the company was sold in the 1980s, died June 23 in Reno, Nev.
According to the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office, Holmes died of natural causes. He was 67 years old, officials said.
Holmes was the son of Harry Holmes — the "Harry" in Harry & David. He took over as president of the mail-order fruit business in 1968, after David Holmes Jr. stepped down from active management.
Holmes formed Bear Creek Corp. as an umbrella organization for the company's numerous functions in 1972. He took the company public in 1976.
In a history written by the company, Holmes is described as a media-shy figure who managed the company during an era of rapid growth.
The company credits him with computerizing operations for processing orders, bookkeeping and developing the practice of direct mailing of its products.
John Fox, who worked under Holmes, praised him for his dedication to the company his family started from scratch.
"It was a very well-run company under John," Fox said.
Ron Meyer, owner of Meyer Orchards in Talent, said he respected Holmes, even though the two were competitors in the local fruit market.
"We were friendly competitors," Meyer said. "I have (Harry & David) orchards on three sides of me and I never had a problem with the company when (Holmes) was there — still don't."
Meyer said Holmes represents a generation of Southern Oregon businessmen gone by.
"He ran a first-class operation," Meyer said.
Holmes left Harry & David just after the company was sold to R.J. Reynolds Development Corp. in 1986. The food and tobacco conglomerate bought the company for $74 million.
Following the sale, Holmes moved to Alaska, the state of his birth.
At some point he started the Washington-based investment business Ice Bear Inc. According to a 1989 Mail Tribune story, Holmes then owned a 123-foot yacht named the Ice Bear.
Holmes contributed to Medford's development 30 years ago by donating nearly 20 acres of land near Hoover Elementary School to the city. The land became known as Holmes Park.
John Holmes, son of Harry Holmes, dies
He was president of Harry & David, named for his father and uncle, for nearly 20 years
July 03, 2010
John R.H. Holmes, who served as president of Harry & David for nearly 20 years until the company was sold in the 1980s, died June 23 in Reno, Nev.
According to the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office, Holmes died of natural causes. He was 67 years old, officials said.
Holmes was the son of Harry Holmes — the "Harry" in Harry & David. He took over as president of the mail-order fruit business in 1968, after David Holmes Jr. stepped down from active management.
Holmes formed Bear Creek Corp. as an umbrella organization for the company's numerous functions in 1972. He took the company public in 1976.
In a history written by the company, Holmes is described as a media-shy figure who managed the company during an era of rapid growth.
The company credits him with computerizing operations for processing orders, bookkeeping and developing the practice of direct mailing of its products.
John Fox, who worked under Holmes, praised him for his dedication to the company his family started from scratch.
"It was a very well-run company under John," Fox said.
Ron Meyer, owner of Meyer Orchards in Talent, said he respected Holmes, even though the two were competitors in the local fruit market.
"We were friendly competitors," Meyer said. "I have (Harry & David) orchards on three sides of me and I never had a problem with the company when (Holmes) was there — still don't."
Meyer said Holmes represents a generation of Southern Oregon businessmen gone by.
"He ran a first-class operation," Meyer said.
Holmes left Harry & David just after the company was sold to R.J. Reynolds Development Corp. in 1986. The food and tobacco conglomerate bought the company for $74 million.
Following the sale, Holmes moved to Alaska, the state of his birth.
At some point he started the Washington-based investment business Ice Bear Inc. According to a 1989 Mail Tribune story, Holmes then owned a 123-foot yacht named the Ice Bear.
Holmes contributed to Medford's development 30 years ago by donating nearly 20 acres of land near Hoover Elementary School to the city. The land became known as Holmes Park.
He was president of Harry & David, named for his father and uncle, for nearly 20 years
July 03, 2010
John R.H. Holmes, who served as president of Harry & David for nearly 20 years until the company was sold in the 1980s, died June 23 in Reno, Nev.
According to the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office, Holmes died of natural causes. He was 67 years old, officials said.
Holmes was the son of Harry Holmes — the "Harry" in Harry & David. He took over as president of the mail-order fruit business in 1968, after David Holmes Jr. stepped down from active management.
Holmes formed Bear Creek Corp. as an umbrella organization for the company's numerous functions in 1972. He took the company public in 1976.
In a history written by the company, Holmes is described as a media-shy figure who managed the company during an era of rapid growth.
The company credits him with computerizing operations for processing orders, bookkeeping and developing the practice of direct mailing of its products.
John Fox, who worked under Holmes, praised him for his dedication to the company his family started from scratch.
"It was a very well-run company under John," Fox said.
Ron Meyer, owner of Meyer Orchards in Talent, said he respected Holmes, even though the two were competitors in the local fruit market.
"We were friendly competitors," Meyer said. "I have (Harry & David) orchards on three sides of me and I never had a problem with the company when (Holmes) was there — still don't."
Meyer said Holmes represents a generation of Southern Oregon businessmen gone by.
"He ran a first-class operation," Meyer said.
Holmes left Harry & David just after the company was sold to R.J. Reynolds Development Corp. in 1986. The food and tobacco conglomerate bought the company for $74 million.
Following the sale, Holmes moved to Alaska, the state of his birth.
At some point he started the Washington-based investment business Ice Bear Inc. According to a 1989 Mail Tribune story, Holmes then owned a 123-foot yacht named the Ice Bear.
Holmes contributed to Medford's development 30 years ago by donating nearly 20 acres of land near Hoover Elementary School to the city. The land became known as Holmes Park.
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