A longtime employee of the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office died of a heart attack Wednesday while snowmobiling southeast of Molas Pass, at about 10,500 feet in elevation.
Hollis Holland, 57, was reported missing Wednesday evening by his wife, Patricia. His snowmobile and body were found about 8:30 p.m. by an Air Care medical helicopter based in Farmington.
He had no vital signs and no apparent injuries, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
“My understanding is it wasn’t something involving an avalanche,” Bender said.
Holland began working part-time for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 and became a full-time deputy in 1992.
He received numerous honors, including two merit badge awards: one in 2002 for leading an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a woman who was intentionally starting fires during the Missionary Ridge Fire, and another in 2010 after rescuing a woman who was inside a burning house.
Holland and his wife moved to the area in the 1970s. He worked in a Silverton mine, led the San Juan County Search & Rescue team for 10 years and was an active member of the Silverton Avalanche School in the 1980s.
He helped start the deputy-ski program at Purgatory ski area, which put deputies on the slopes to improve security and response times at the mountain.
He also worked part-time for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Silverton.
Holland was off-duty Wednesday when he went snowmobiling south of Silverton in the area of Molas Pass, Bender said.
He told his wife where he was going and when he expected to return. When he failed to return as planned, his wife reported him overdue.
His body was found Wednesday night near his snowmobile southeast of the summit of Molas Pass.
The medical helicopter was equipped with night vision and communicated his location to ground crews.
“The ground teams succeeded in a difficult recovery just as a major snowstorm moved into the area,” Bender said. “Without the search teams’ timely actions, the family could have been faced with an extended time of not knowing where their loved one was or what his fate was.”
Other agencies participating in the search included the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Silverton Snowmobile Club and search-and-rescue teams from La Plata and San Juan counties.
“We greatly appreciate all of their assistance,” said Kristine Burns, undersheriff with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Bender, who has known Holland since the 1980s, said Holland played Santa Claus and liked to laugh.
“(I) don’t ever recall being with him without hearing him laugh at least once,” Bender said. “He is missed.”
Deputies with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Durango Police Department will wear shrouds on their badges for the next seven days in remembrance of Holland.
In addition to his wife, he had two adult sons and two grandchildren.
Memorial services have not yet been announced.
Burial is expected to occur in Silverton when weather conditions allow.
