Dr. Donald Alexander Holt, a lifelong agronomist, educator, and agricultural leader, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025, in Monticello, Indiana.
Raised on a family farm in Illinois, Dr. Holt earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. from Purdue University. He served on the faculty at Purdue before returning to Illinois, where he held senior leadership roles at the University of Illinois, including Head of the Agronomy Department, Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, and Senior Associate Dean of the College of ACES.
Through his work in agricultural research, education, and administration, Dr. Holt contributed to the advancement of crop science and agricultural systems that support Illinois farmers, researchers, and the broader seed and crop improvement community.
Dr. Holt’s legacy endures through the many students, colleagues, and the numerous institutions shaped by his leadership and commitment to agriculture. For almost 70 years, Dr. Holt planted seeds meant not just for a single harvest, but for the future of farmers everywhere. Today’s abundance rises from the furrows he laid.
Please take a moment to honor him at:
Dr. Donald A. Holt Obituary December 31, 2025 - Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home