ALUMNI SKETCH: Tim Holmes ’88

When it comes to giving back to the community, Tim Holmes ’88 goes above and beyond the call. An investment representative for the firm Edward Jones, he devotes a majority of his time outside the office to coaching youngsters in basketball, baseball, softball and Pop Warner football; cooking and serving meals to people in need; visiting residents of nursing homes; and welcoming new businesses to town. At Valparaiso University, he was one of the finest pitchers in school history; in 1987, he had a 1.59 ERA—the second best in the nation among NCAA Division I schools. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates his junior year, he played in the Pirates’ minor league system for several seasons before becoming Valpo’s pitching coach, a post he held for 12 years. He was inducted into the VU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hometown: Valparaiso, Ind.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, Valparaiso University, 1988; Master of Science degree in management, Purdue University, 1996.

On his Valpo education: “At freshman orientation, we had a speaker who emphasized being a ‘well-rounded’ person, which meant excelling in the classroom, on the playing field and giving back to the community. That really hit home for me. It was a speech I’ll never forget. Also at Valpo, I had several mentors and role models in the classroom — professors Norman Hughes, John Feaster and Al Kraft—who made an extra effort to help me succeed.”

On his community involvement: “Everyone I knew while growing up, my parents, coaches and teachers, all believed in helping people out. Seeing youngsters fulfill their dreams or giving hope to the hopeless is the reward. Our communities help nurture, educate and guide us through our journeys. Fortunately, I’ve been able to reach a few of my dreams. Contributing my time to the community is giving back to those who have given so much to me.”