PEOPLE: FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY NAMED

Southeast Missouri natives Earl and Marjorie Holland, who live in Fort Myers, Fla., have been named the 2000 Friends of the University by the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

School officials announced the award winners Wednesday.

The award will be presented Saturday at the annual Copper Dome breakfast at the Student Recreation Center as part of Southeast Missouri State University's homecoming celebration.

The award recognizes those who support the university. It is the highest award bestowed by the foundation.

The Hollands made a six-figure donation in August 1998 to endow the Earl and Marjorie Holland Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to two graduates of high schools in Caruthersville or Hayti, Mo. The scholarship was awarded for the first time in fall 1998, school officials said.

The Hollands also have made a second six-figure gift to improve the university's alumni facilities.

Earl Holland is the vice chairman and chief operating officer of Health Management Associates, which owns and operates 37 hospitals in 12 states. The company's corporate offices are in Naples, Fla.

Earl Holland was raised in Caruthersville and graduated from Caruthersville High School in 1963. He attended Southeast and received a bachelor of science in business administration degree in 1968.

Marjorie Holland attended schools in Hayti. She graduated from high school in 1967 and later enrolled at Lambuth College in Jackson, Tenn.

Earl Holland was associate administrator of Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital in Hayti in 1971. Marjorie Holland was a part-time laboratory assistant who was preparing to attend nursing school.

They were married in 1972 in Hayti.

The Hollands have three daughters.

Marjorie Holland works part time for a Fort Myers boutique owned by one of their daughters. She also does charity work for the guardian ad litem program, helping abused children.

HOMECOMING EVENTS

Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming

Saturday

* 7:30 a.m. Copper Dome Breakfast, student recreation center, members free, others $10. Call 651-2252.

* 9:10 a.m. Homecoming Broadway Mile fun run/walk, pre-registration $10, all participants receive a T-shirt. Call 651-2572.

* 9:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade of the Years, runs from Capaha Park east on Broadway and then south on Main Street.

* 1 p.m. Southeast Indians vs. Murray State Racers football.