Pat Hauck McWilliams, Ed Holt To Be Honored By Chamber

Pat Hauck McWilliams and Ed Holt have a steadfast belief in giving back to the community in which they were raised and their many, many years of volunteer service have led to their selection as the 2022 Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Pillars of the Community. The two will be honored at the chamber’s annual meeting, which will be held Friday, March 18 at the Ketcham Community Center.
Both Mrs. McWilliams and Holt are Trenton natives, graduating from Trenton High School and heading off to college before eventually coming back home to raise their families. Mrs. McWilliams raised three sons with her late husband Phil Hauck, a well-known Trenton attorney, and Holt and his wife, the former Mary Foland, raised two daughters and two sons while he worked in the banking business.
Pat Hauck McWilliams

Mrs. McWilliams recalls her first involvement in the community came several years before her boys were born, becoming a Girl Scout leader – a position she served in for many years. She said this was an unusual position in which to be as she had grown up a “terrific tomboy,” with only one brother and no sisters. “I never really wanted any sisters, I always just wanted a second brother,” she said, quickly adding she did enjoy her time as a Girl Scout Leader and learned a lot about girls.
Her involvement in scouting quickly changed when her sons came along. Her husband, Phil, was a Scout leader for 20 years so it was only natural for her to serve as a Den mother as her boys became Cub scouts and moved on up the ranks, with all three eventually becoming Eagle Scouts.
“I loved being a den mother,” she said. “We went on field trips, we hiked, we visited the Hoffman dairy and had all kinds of projects.”
She also had a strong pull to education, having grown up as the daughter of long-time THS ag instructor Carl Roda. When her boys entered school, she took on the role of room mother and spent many years as a weekly volunteer in the Trenton R-9 School District. She remembers fondly her time in the classrooms of Robin Wilson and Babe Roy, referring to both as “excellent” teachers. “I graded papers, consoled kids, whatever needed to be done, I did it,” she said.
She was the first president of the PTA for the combined elementary schools and helped former Rissler Elementary teacher Marylin Whisler Hoffman organize the children’s library at the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library, providing the first computer equipment for use by children at the library in honor of her own grandchildren.
A member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Mrs. McWilliams has been a Sunday School teacher as well as being involved in the United Methodist Women. As a member of Church Women United, she has spent much time working in the Thrift Shop, which provides funds to many local and area organizations from the money it raises from the shop’s sales. “I got the chance to work with other Christian women in our community that I might not otherwise have had a chance to be around,” she said. She has also served as the northwest director of Church Women United.
Mrs. McWilliams has also dabbled in city government, serving several terms on the city planning and zoning board. “I really enjoyed my time on that board and felt we did many good things while I was there,” she said, adding she particularly enjoyed serving with the late Bob Gallup, a long-time P&Z Board member and family friend.
While her work in the community has slowed, Mrs. McWilliams’ interest in the town she calls home has not.
“I love this community,” she said. “If you want to have a healthy place to raise your children and grandchildren in, then you have to give to your community. And when you look back on your life, you will find that you will be more satisfied with the volunteer work that you do than with all the fun and games.”
Ed Holt

To say Holt has been a busy volunteer in the community would be an understatement. Beginning with his involvement with the Jaycees when he and his family returned to Trenton in 1962, Holt has served Trenton in many capacities.
A large amount of his volunteer time has involved business-related activities. “It is so important to recognize those individuals and businesses who sell things and provide services to our community,” he said. “We are so fortunate to have the services that we have here locally – the businesses, the doctors, the hospital, the park department, etc. We need to make sure to support them so that they can be here for those who live here in future years.”
Holt spent several years on the board of the chamber of commerce, including serving as vice president. He was president of the four-county banker’s organization that was active back in the 60s and 70s and taught business classes for several years at North Central Missouri College.
“I really enjoyed the college,” he said. “If I hadn’t been a banker, I think I would have chosen teacher as a second vocation.”
Holt served as a member of the Trenton City Council under three mayors, filling a vacancy in the third ward. As part of his duties, he served as the council liaison to the park board as well as serving as chairman of both the administrative and finance committees.
“We had some really tough issues to deal with, but I am so glad I did it,” he said.
He also helped out in the park department, spending one summer as a boy’s tennis instructor. One of the boys in his group was the late Mike Bosley, who took over that teaching role many years later.
With his children being involved in sports, it was only natural he assume coaching responsibilities. He and the late Alan Sharp coached many baseball teams involving their sons (Tim Holt and Matt Sharp). “He did most of the coaching, I just helped,” he said.
Holt was a member of the first Missouri Day Festival Committee, working with Phil Schlarb to coordinate the first Saturday night music event held at the festival – a bluegrass performance by Pat and Holly Gorsett. He spent 26 years as a member of the Four Dimensions, a barbershop quartet performing at nearly every event ever held in Trenton. The group was featured in the Trenton Acting Guild’s production of “The Music Man,” and were the hit of the show, receiving several ovations from the audience. He and his wife Mary, performed in other TAG productions as well.
As a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Holt is a long-time participant in the church choir and has, in the past, also served as the youth choir director. He served as chairman of the church’s finance committee as well as a member of the administrative committee and the pastor-parish committee. He has also been a lay speaker when called on to do so.