Lasting Memories

Leo Holub
1917-April 27, 2010
Stanford, California

Leo Holub, 93, founder of Stanford's photography program, died April 27, 2010.

He was born on a bee farm in Decatur, Ark., and lived in Stillwell, Okla., and Oakland, Calif., before attending the Art Institute of Chicago and California School of Fine Arts. He was a ship's rigger for the Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked as a book designer and illustrator, press foreman and architectural designer. His first teaching job was as a part-time art instructor at California School of Fine Arts in 1956, but it was not until 1969 that he taught his first class at Stanford University.

He founded the university's photography program the same year, after his exhibit of photographs of Stanford students -- clicked in his spare time while he worked in the university planning office -- caught the eyes of students and administrators. A popular teacher, he retired in 1980.

Stanford established a photography award in his name in 1994 and published two books of his work. In retirement he spent 10 years traveling across the country to photograph more than 100 artists in their studios. The Smithsonian Archives of American Art began collecting his prints in 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Florence of San Francisco; two sons, Jan of Grass Valley and Eric of San Francisco; and a brother, Richard of Grass Valley.