J. Holland


                   Weekday’s 6:00am to 8:00am

Beginning in 1973 as a reporter for his high school in Dalton, Georgia, J. Holland has been in broadcasting for 34 years now.  First at WTTI-AM in Dalton, Holland moved on to college and the campus radio station at Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama in 1975.  As program director he worked many jobs including news and sports coverage as well as becoming the voice of the Gamecocks for their highly respected, championship baseball teams. 

Also, while in college Holland began working weekends at the pioneering WQEN-FM in Gadsden, eventually landing the highly prized 7pm – 12m slot.  From there he worked for several stations mostly in and around Northeast and Central Alabama including Alabama’s largest market – Birmingham as morning host for Clear Channel’s News Radio 960 WERC.

While at WGAD-AM in Gadsden, Holland first experienced what would become his true love in radio.  It was late January, 1983; Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was in Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Shortly before he was to go on the air at 2pm, news spread that “the Bear” had passed away.  As program director, Holland made the decision to use the air time as a memorial to Bryant.  Instead of playing the usual formatted contemporary music, Holland began taking calls from those wishing to express their grief at the passing of the Alabama football legend.  Many former players called, even a few of Bryant’s close friends and associates in Northeast Alabama were heard from that day.  It was Holland’s first time to host a TALK SHOW!  But, most importantly, the power of the spoken word deeply impressed him.  “We received so many calls!  Many were crying on the air and recalling how Bryant did this or that for them.  Even after the show, the phones kept ringing,” Holland recalled.  Station management received letters of thanks and many requests for tapes of the show.  But, the talk format was not to be found in radio except in large metropolitan markets.  Years later the format would spread, but for now, Holland had to wait for his destiny.  It did, however, strengthen his respect for the medium.

The opportunity finally came for a full-time talk show.  Having never forgotten his experience, he jumped at the chance in the early 1990’s.   Since then, he has been a true “Talker”– always sticking by his philosophy that, “In order to be a good talker, one must be a good listener!”

Holland is married to Marcia Cromer Holland of Alexander City, Alabama.  They celebrated their 29^th wedding anniversary in June, 2007.  They have three children, Amanda Leigh or just “Mandy”– 26, who currently is the assistant manager at corporate Verizon Wireless store in Gadsden.  Lindsey Marie Holland Henderson – 24 is married to Corey Henderson of Southside.  Both Lindsey and Corey are still in school as graduate students studying Physical Therapy.  Lindsey as a physical therapy assistant and Corey is working toward becoming a full Physical Therapist.  Joseph Preston (Amy) – 21.  J. is the very proud Granddaddy of Jackson Preston Holland who is two!  His parents are Joseph and Amy Thompson Holland.  Both are students at the University of Alabama -Amy in nursing, “JoJo” is in aerospace engineering and both are making the dean’s list regularly.  Marcia and J. are very proud of their children’s accomplishments …and expect many more!

J. has been a tireless worker in the community.  Volunteering many times to “pay my civic rent” – a concept he learned early in his radio career.  He has also run twice for the Alabama Legislature.  Although unsuccessful on both occasions in 1994 and 1998, he learned a great deal about politics and the workings of our governmental system.  He also learned, the hard way, how important the privilege of voting is.  He lost the 1994 election by one vote!  Most recently J. was the Communications Director for the Judge Roy Moore for Governor campaign in 2005 – 2006.  It was another exceptional learning experience into the inter-workings of hardcore politics.  

In his “spare” time, Holland enjoys boating, fishing and trying to live a simple life.  Outdoor activities have always been important to him.  In fact, while he has gotten away from many of his more time consuming activities like backpacking and camping, Holland says

that there was a time in his younger years that he was either in the woods, on the water, or trying to get there! 

He also loved sports, lettering in all four sports his high school senior year.  But, he happily replaced his “sports” for those of his children.  Now that he can see some of that commitment waning he and Marcia are looking forward to more grandchildren and being “empty nesters” – perhaps even retiring on the Coosa River one day.

But one thing is certain…as long as he has a mic in front of him, Holland will always have something to say; tempered by his many years in the medium he truly loves and always mindful of his first talk show – when he just opened the phone lines and let the listeners tell the story.