Holt Rast
Encyclopedia
Holt Rast was an American
former football
player and entrepreneur who founded Rast Construction. Rast served in the U.S Army from 1942 to 1946 and was later elected to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1958 to 1966. He was appointed by Governor George Wallace
to assist with the development of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
in 1967 and founded Rast Construction in 1975.
at the University of Alabama from 1939 to 1941. He was a unanimous All-American pick in 1941. Rast, along with teammates Don Whitmire
and Jimmy Nelson, was selected MVP of the 1942 Cotton Bowl Classic
. Rast scored on a 10-yard interception return during that 29-21 win over Texas A&M
.
Rast was drafted by the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
in 1942
in the 18th round with the 170th pick. Rast did not play for the Bears, however, he entered the U.S. Army after his graduation in 1942.
He was indicted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 1977 for football.
In 1994 he was selected by the Southeastern Conference as an SEC Football Legend
.
with oak leaf cluster
, the Bronze Star and Silver Star
. Rast was honorably discharged in 1946 at the rank of Major.
Rast was elected to membership in the Alabama House of Representatives
from Jefferson County
in 1957 and was reelected to that post in 1962 and served until 1966. He was selected by his peers as the chairman of the Jefferson County delegation.
Among the many civic responsibilities he agreed to accept over the years are membership on the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Board, and President and Promoter of the Dixie Bowl.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and entrepreneur who founded Rast Construction. Rast served in the U.S Army from 1942 to 1946 and was later elected to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1958 to 1966. He was appointed by Governor George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
to assist with the development of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state museum located in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to communicating the state’s athletic history...
in 1967 and founded Rast Construction in 1975.
College Football
Rast played End for coach Frank ThomasFrank Thomas
Frank Thomas may refer to:*Frank Thomas *Frank Thomas , one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as the Nine Old Men...
at the University of Alabama from 1939 to 1941. He was a unanimous All-American pick in 1941. Rast, along with teammates Don Whitmire
Don Whitmire
Donald Boone Whitmire was an American football tackle between 1941–1944 for the University of Alabama. In 1956, Whitmire was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame....
and Jimmy Nelson, was selected MVP of the 1942 Cotton Bowl Classic
1942 Cotton Bowl Classic
The 1942 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1941 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1942, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference , and the Texas A&M Aggies, representing the Southwest Conference as...
. Rast scored on a 10-yard interception return during that 29-21 win over Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
.
Rast was drafted by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1942
1942 NFL Draft
The 1942 National Football League Draft was held on December 22, 1941.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:-Round eleven:...
in the 18th round with the 170th pick. Rast did not play for the Bears, however, he entered the U.S. Army after his graduation in 1942.
He was indicted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 1977 for football.
In 1994 he was selected by the Southeastern Conference as an SEC Football Legend
SEC Football Legends
-East Division:-West Division:-References:...
.
World War II
After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1942, Rast joined the U.S. Army. He was a Captain in the 9th Division Combat Engineers, and was twice wounded. He was awarded the Purple HeartPurple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
with oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, the Bronze Star and Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. Rast was honorably discharged in 1946 at the rank of Major.
Business and Political Career
After World War II Rast served as President of Rast, Gregory and Dean Construction Engineers from 1946 to 1976. In 1976 the company was renamed Rast Construction where he served as Chairman until his retirement.Rast was elected to membership in the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
from Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
in 1957 and was reelected to that post in 1962 and served until 1966. He was selected by his peers as the chairman of the Jefferson County delegation.
Among the many civic responsibilities he agreed to accept over the years are membership on the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Board, and President and Promoter of the Dixie Bowl.