Herman Holbrook Obituary

Herman Lindsay "Duff" Holbrook MCCLELLANVILLE, SC - Herman Lindsay "Duff" Holbrook, 92, of McClellanville, SC, died on Friday, July 17, 2015. He was born on Saturday, June 30, 1923 in Phoebus, VA, to the late Mrs. Myrtie Louise Holbrook and the late Mr. David James Holbrook. Duff grew up hunting, fishing and trapping the Chesapeake Bay in Tidewater, Virginia. These early outdoor experiences provided the foundation for his life's work as a wildlife biologist. He earned degrees in forestry and wildlife from Virginia Tech and the University of Michigan. During World War II, Duff served as a navigator on a B-24 with the Army Air Corps 376th Bomb Group stationed in Italy. He flew 14 combat missions that carried him to places bearing names like Zagreb, Vienna, Brenner Pass and the Po Valley. Following War World II, he finished his education and began a lifelong career as a Wildlife Biologist. His contributions within the profession included intensively managing Lowcountry deer and Wild Turkey populations then live-trapping deer and turkeys and restocking the Sumter National Forest in the piedmont and mountains. By 1950, these sections of SC had no deer or wild turkeys. In less than 10 years, restoration of these wild populations to the Sumter NF was complete. Duff was the first to use the canon net technique for trap and relocation of wild turkeys. This technique was largely responsible for the recovery of turkey populations across the southeast and nation. Later in his career, he developed a system for coordination for timber and wildlife management for all Southeastern National Forests. Upon retirement Duff returned to the Lowcountry to work for White Oak Timber Corp., once again coordinating forest management with wildlife objectives. Duff's faith in Almighty God never wavered, and he dedicated his life to His purposes. His family remembers him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Duff is survived by his loving spouse of 64 years, Eleanor Holbrook, of McClellanville, SC; his brother, David J. Holbrook, of Chapel Hill, NC; four children, David Lindsay Holbrook, of Charleston, SC, Carolyn Denise Holbrook, of Asheville, NC, Todd Holbrook (Lisa) ,of Conyers, GA, and Marilyn Elaine Buda, of Decatur, GA; Duff and Eleanor were married on the winter solstice in 1950 in Blairsville, GA. They have ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant Chapel. A Funeral Service will be held at McClellanville United Methodist Church on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the McClellanville Methodist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his honor to Palmetto Warrior Connection, c/o Goodwill Industries of Lower S.C., 2150 Eagle Drive, Building 100, North Charleston, SC 29406 and McClellanville United Methodist Church, 200 Pinckney St., McClellanville, SC 29458. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE ROAD, MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston