In the early 1960s, Lou Holland Sr., a hard-working farm boy from Racine, came to UW-Madison and found his footing on the football field as a dynamic running back for the University of Wisconsin Badgers. After college, he found success in the financial world, becoming an investment professional and a highly respected regular on the long-running PBS program, Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser. Later in life, Lou Sr. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In the face of this difficult diagnosis, Lou Sr. decided to tackle the disease with the same tenacity he exhibited in his athletic and professional careers. Sadly, Lou Sr. lost his battle to Alzheimer’s disease in early 2016. In tribute to his remarkable legacy, his son, Lou Jr., and the entire Holland family, have created the Louis A. Holland Sr. Professorship in Alzheimer’s disease at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute (WAI).
Cynthia Carlsson, MD, MS, is the first recipient of the award. Dr. Carlsson is the Director of the WAI and Clinical Core Leader of the Wisconsin ADRC. Her primary research goal is to better understand how vascular risk factors contribute to the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and how treating these vascular mechanisms may delay or prevent the onset of dementia.
This prestigious award not only honors the remarkable Lou Holland Sr., but also exemplifies the passion and dedication of the entire Holland family.
Please celebrate Lou Holland Sr.’s legacy and join the Holland family in advancing a cure through research, education and social responsibility through your support of the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can improve lives and build a future without Alzheimer’s disease.
In Memory of Lou: Learn more about Lou Holland Sr. and his family in this OnWisconsin feature article.