To the editor:
As you know on August 24, 2018, the Cyclone Nation honored my uncle, John Holsclaw, for his four decades of service as the Voice of the Cyclones.
My mother, Pauline Yates Shell, was the oldest child of Fred and Susan Holsclaw’s 12 children. John is the youngest. He still has seven living siblings ages 80-92 years old. As you might imagine they all wanted to be in attendance at the Citizen’s Bank Stadium to see John honored.
Some have physical disabilities that would have made this impossible. So I contacted Forrest Holt, Elizabethton Cyclones Athletic Director, to see if he could help me make it possible. He was very helpful. He agreed to meet me and my husband James at the stadium earlier that afternoon to discuss logistics. He showed us which gate we could come in with wheelchairs and the easy access ramps. He told us he would reserve a couple of parking places for us for our family. He reserved seats in the stands that had space where two wheelchairs could be placed with the family spaces. He met us when we arrived and made sure that we had everything we needed.
As you know John’s immediate family of children and grandchildren were present with him on the field. Thanks to Forrest there were other family members in the stands as well. John’s brothers, Arthur and Willie Holsclaw, and their spouses Jeannie and Leota were there as well as his sisters, Maxine Hodge Gagliano, Betty Whitson Maupin and her husband Jim, Barbara Milsaps and Martha Laws Forbes. It was special for Martha to hear it announced that John had received the Bulldog Law Award twice while in high school. She had been married to Bulldog Laws until his untimely death at the age of 27. It brought back sweet memories to her. John’s sister, Juanita Pansock, was unable to attend. Several nieces and nephews were in attendance as well. Our many many thanks go to Forrest Holt for making it possible for so many of the Holsclaw family to be there to honor John. We want to thank Forrest Holt publicly for his help! Thank you so much Forrest!!

Sincerely,
Rebekah Yates Hunt
John’s niece