[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 43 (Monday, March 9, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
APPRECIATING PATRIOT LOU HOLTZ
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HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 9, 2026
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, South Carolinians are
grateful to express appreciation for the life and extraordinary career
of Coach Lou Holtz, who led the University of South Carolina Gamecocks
football team from 1999 to 2004.
He will always be remembered by his famous quote, ``Today's athletes
talk about rights and privileges. And the players 50 years ago talked
about obligations and responsibilities. And to me that describes
society today.''
I include in the Record a review of his accomplishments presented by
the Dawson Funeral Home of East Liverpool, Ohio:
Louis Leo ``Lou'' Holtz, a national championship-winning
college football coach and National Football Foundation
College Football Hall of Famer member who devoted more than
five decades to college coaching and broadcasting, died on
March 4, 2026, at age 89.
Holtz passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in
Orlando, Florida. A devoted husband, father, faithful
Catholic and one of college football's most legendary
figures, he leaves behind a legacy defined by faith, family,
perseverance and an unwavering belief in the potential of
others.
Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, as one
of three children to Andrew and Anne Holtz, Holtz grew up in
a working-class family that instilled in him a relentless
work ethic and an abiding sense of gratitude from an early
age.
Holtz married his East Liverpool hometown love and best
friend, Beth Barcus, on July 22, 1961. Their loving, faith
filled marriage endured more than five decades until Beth's
passing in 2020, and those who knew them will remember Lou
and Beth as inseparable partners through both life's joys and
challenges.
He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren: Luanne Altenbaumer (Terry) of Houston,
Texas, their daughter Lindsay Altenbaumer (Raul Ganzalez) and
their children Amelia and R.J.; Louis Leo ``Skip'' Holtz
(Jennifer) of Six Mile, South Carolina, their children Louis
Leo ``Trey'' (Rachel), Chad and Hailey; Kevin Holtz (Kelly)
of Port Orange, Florida, their children Katherine and Aaron;
Liz Messaglia (Mike) of Brownsburg, Indiana, and their
children Zachary (Nicole), Beth and Jacob. In addition to his
wife and parents, Holtz was preceded in death by his sisters
Vicki Haggerty and Shirley Youst.
After earning his undergraduate degree in history from Kent
State University, where he played football for two seasons, a
football injury led him to assist the coaching staff and
later complete his master's degree at the University of Iowa,
laying the foundation for a life devoted to teaching,
coaching, and inspiring others.
Commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army
Reserve upon graduation, he carried that commitment forward
throughout his life, supporting the military through multiple
USO tours and uplifting deployed service members in places
such as Camp Liberty in Baghdad and Kandahar Airfield in
Afghanistan.
Holtz began his football coaching career in 1960 and spent
time as an assistant coach at Iowa, William & Mary,
Connecticut, South Carolina and Ohio State (under Hall of
Famer Woody Hayes), winning the National Championship in
1968.
He went on to excel by building programs as head coach at
William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75),
Arkansas (1977-83), Minnesota (1984-85), Notre Dame (1986-96)
and South Carolina (1999-2004). He finished with a career
collegiate record of 249-132-7 and won a dozen postseason
bowl games. At each stop, he inherited a program with a
losing record and transformed it into a winner, taking every
team to a bowl game by his second season and ultimately
capturing the 1988 National Championship with the Fighting
Irish. His extraordinary ability to revive struggling teams
made him the only coach in college football history to send
six different programs to bowl games and to guide four of
them to final Top 15 rankings.
His love of golf began at William & Mary, where coaching
the golf team to supplement his football salary sparked a
lifelong passion for the game. He later treasured his
memberships at Lake Nona and Augusta National, forming
lasting friendships on their fairways, celebrating six holes
in one, and cherishing the highlight of winning the Jamboree
at Augusta.
Holtz lived by the values of trust, love and commitment. He
taught three essential rules: do what is right, do it to the
best of your ability, and show people you care. These
principles not only shaped the teams he built, but more
importantly, they shaped character, instilled purpose, and
helped young men become the best versions of themselves, on
the field and in life.
Lou Holtz received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
nation's highest civilian honor, from President Trump during
a White House ceremony on December 3, 2020, recognizing his
extraordinary impact as one of America's greatest football
coaches and a lifelong teacher of character and leadership.
Beyond the gridiron, he became a trusted analyst for CBS
and ESPN, a New York Times bestselling author and one of
America's most sought-after motivational speakers. Known for
his quick-wit and charm, he turned every podium into an
opportunity to inspire others to believe in themselves. His
wit, wisdom and warmth reached far beyond football.
Through the Holtz Charitable Foundation, he and Beth
supported countless educational and community initiatives,
continuing to shape lives long after his final game. Holtz's
Heroes Foundation, organized by his former Notre Dame
players, supports scholarships at Notre Dame, former players
and the Bread of Life Food Drive.
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