Austin in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Ira J. Holton

1919-2012

— Pillars of the City —

Ira J. Holton Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2023

1. Ira J. Holton Marker

Inscription. I.J. Holton served the Austin community in business, philanthropy, education, and literary programs for nearly 65 years. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served as an infantry officer in the European theatre during the Second World War and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Croix de Guerre. After earning a law degree at the University of Iowa, he worked at Hormel Foods Corporation from 1947 to 1983, serving as attorney, head of the law department, director, vice president, president, chairman of the board and the Hormel Foundation. I.J. Holton Middle School is named in his honor, in recognition of his contributions to Austin's education programs and social growth.

Erected 2017 by Austin Pillars of the City Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Industry & Commerce • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.

Location. 43° 40.337′ N, 92° 58.478′ W. Marker is in Austin, Minnesota, in Mower County. Marker is on Main Street North just north of 5th Place Northwest, on the right when traveling north. The marker is mounted on an Austin flood wall pillar, on the west side of Horace Austin Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Main Street North, Austin MN 55912, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Esther Mitchell Morse (here, next to this marker); Jon W. Erichson (here, next to this marker); Gary J. Ray (a few steps from this marker); Jay C. Hormel (a few steps from this marker); Gertrude Ellis Skinner (a few steps from this marker); John O'Rourke (a few steps from this marker); Bonnie Besse Rietz (within shouting distance of this marker); George A. Hormel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Austin Pillars of the City

Also see . . .
1. Austin Pillars of the City: Ira J. Holton. Excerpt:

The year 1947 marked the beginning of his career with Hormel Foods Corporation, an association that was to last for the rest of his life. Jim was first hired by George A. Hormel and Company (as the company was known at the time) as a legal assistant. Over the next 36 years he held positions of increasing responsibility and ever-greater importance with the company, moving up the line from attorney to head of the corporate law department, then corporate secretary, to director, then executive vice president, next as the company’s sixth president, and finally the board chairmanship, before his

2. Marker detail: Ira J. Holton
retirement in 1983. His tenure at the helm of the Hormel Co. was noteworthy for his leadership in guiding the company through one of its biggest physical transformations, when a new, modern 1,000,000 square-foot plant was built in Austin, insuring the company’s growth and its continuing relationship with this city.

(Submitted on November 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Ira James Holton. Excerpt:

He enlisted as a private of infantry in the U.S. Army. After basic training in California, he volunteered for Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, in February, 1942. He arrived in England in March of 1944, a captain on the general staff of the Third Army, General George Patton, commanding. He departed on the night of June 5-6, 1944, on one of the 5,000 vessels en route to Normandy. He was aboard the flagship of Task Force U (for Utah Beach). In July, in Normandy, he received a battlefield promotion to major, infantry. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Vermillion Star and a Bronze Star medal. His European Theater Medal bears a bronze invasion arrowhead and five campaign stars. He returned to the United States in July 1945. After the surrender of the Japanese, he was released from active duty.

(Submitted on November 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2023

3. Ira J. Holton Marker

Looking east. Austin Mill Pond in background.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 46 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.