Mark M. Holeman works on a landscape plan at his desk. One of the office cats oversees the work. Painting by Nick Hall. Photo by Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
People always say a college degree in liberal arts can be a good foundation for many careers. That’s certainly the case with Mark M. Holeman, founder of Mark M. Holeman Company, who celebrates his 100th birthday April 19.
Born in Miami, Mark came to Indianapolis as youngster. He attended Shortridge High School and went on to Butler University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history in 1942. He left the halls of academe to join the U.S. Army. He served in Germany, where he met and married his German bride Carmen, who has remained the love of his life for 74 years. They returned to Mark’s adopted home, where he worked as gallery director for the H. Lieber Co., known for its photography supplies, frames and displays of historic and contemporary art.
He soon nourished his lifelong interest in plants and started a nursery for his own pleasure.
Highway to the future
After six years with Lieber, Mark took a job as office manager for Asphalt Surfacing Co., a move that put him on the road to a new career. The company had contracts with the state of Indiana to plant the roadsides of highways and interstates. At the same time, office and industrial parks started popping up throughout the area and eventually Mark saw opportunities for growth there. After a few years of planting highways, he segued to this development because office and industrial parks required sometimes as much as 50 percent of their properties be landscaped to enhance visual appeal. He found that working with the property owners or managers buildings and grounds staff usually led to successful landscape installations and maintenance.
Key to successful projects is a strong maintenance program. The rise of industrial and institutional clients with sizable investments in landscape planting and construction will give impetus to the movement toward professionalism at the maintenance level, Mark told Grounds Maintenance magazine in January 1966.
Grounds Maintenance magazine wrote an article about Mark M. Holeman in 1966, shortly after he founded his landscaping business.
Move to residential landscapes
He formed Mark M. Holeman Inc., in 1965, the middle of his decade of growth and change. He honed his landscape architecture skills to became a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
He started his own nursery of trees, shrubs and perennials that he could use in his clients’ landscapes, and his residential landscape business grew.
“Unfortunately, his most noteworthy and inspired work has often been hidden in the worlds behind privacy fences and security gates,” said David Gorden during ceremonies in 1998, when Mark was given the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Lifetime Achievement Award. David, a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, worked for Mark and is now one of the owners of the company. Butler also awarded Mark an Alumni Achievement Award.
These landscapes have been enjoyed and appreciated by homeowners and guests, but few others. From palatial estates to modest suburban ranches, “Mark has waved his wand at probably every possible residential setting,” David said.
More than landscaping
Out of this work, have come friends and special relationships that Mark has formed with clients, some of whom continue to work with the company today. “He had impeccable taste and was always a gentleman,” David said. “It’s how he interacted with clients.”
Mark also returned to the community by serving with many organizations. Among them:
- Former president of Indianapolis Landscape Association.
- Former president of the Indianapolis Museum of Art Horticultural Society, now the Horticultural Society of Newfields.
- Former president of the Indiana Association of Nurserymen. This organization honored Mark in 1995 with an Award of Meritorious Service to the industry.
- Longtime member of the Franklin College Board of Trustees.
- Former member of St. Vincent Hospital Advisory Board.
- Former member of the Indianapolis Zoo Founders Advisory Board and the zoo’s Horticulture and Botanical Collections Committee.
- Former board member of the Festival Music Society.
- Former board member of the Friends of Herron Gallery at the Herron School of Art.
The Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recognized Mark. M. Holeman with a lifetime achievement award. Photo courtesy Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Supporter of Indianapolis Museum of Art
Among Mark and Carmen’s greatest interest has been the Indianapolis Museum of Art, now called Newfields. “It is to the IMA that Marks has been the most giving of his time and talents,” David said.
He served on its Grounds Committee, the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, including as president of the latter for two years. And you’ll find The Mark and Carmen Holeman Gallery for Forefront Exhibitions.
Retirement
Mark retired from his landscape business in 80s, and yet for years, showed up periodically to spend time in his office. He’d pet and play with one of the cats he always had in the office. His office was piled high with drawings and landscape plans. His bookshelves were filled with as many history books as landscape and gardening books, evidence he remained in love with his college major throughout his life.
“Mark was the epitome of good taste,” David said in an interview. He drew simple, elegant drawing. The plans were rich with horticulture detail, reflecting his interest and knowledge of plants, even though he had no formal education in that area. In particular, Mark loved rhododendrons and azaleas and planted them throughout his personal landscape and those of his clients.
One would not draw a straight line from a degree in history to a decades-long career in the landscaping business, but that’s the path of Mark M. Holeman. We wish him a wonderful 100th birthday.
Want to send a greeting to Mark?
If you would like, you may send greetings to Mark M. Holeman, c/o Mark M. Holeman, Inc., 7871 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46256