HSU freshman drowns in canoeing accident on Dallas-area lake

SUNNYVALE—An 18-year-old Hardin-Simmons University freshman who was considering a call to ministry drowned in a spring break canoeing accident on Lake Ray Hubbard, east of Dallas.

Kiefer Holman, from Mimosa Lane Baptist Church in Mesquite, was on the lake March 12 with two other teenagers when high winds capsized their canoe, throwing all three into the water. The other two swam to safety, but Holman was unable to make it to shore in the stiff winds.

Divers began searching for Holman soon after his disappearance. They recovered his body March 16.

Caleb Steed, dorm director at Hardin-Simmons’ Nix Residence Hall, recalled Holman as “a great student … a very godly and respectful student.”

“He was always eager to talk about his faith and was the kind of student who was loved by anyone who had a class or a conversation with him," Steed said.

Holman, a graduate of Mesquite Poteet High School, played soccer at Hardin-Simmons.

“He was doing some preaching at some of the smaller churches and told me he was feeling a calling to study ministry,” HSU Head Soccer Coach Dan Heger said. “He was sort of in transition about trying to decide if he wanted to major in Bible and go to seminary.”

Omer Hancock, professor of church ministry and director of in-service training in Hardin-Simmons’ Logsdon School of Theology, served as Holman’s advisor and had been his teacher in an Old Testament class.

“He was a very likeable, outgoing and energetic person—a very friendly young man,” Hancock recalled.

He noted Holman had preached recently at Second Baptist Church in Abilene, and Hancock was scheduled to review evaluations of that sermon with him soon after spring break.

Janlyn Thaxton of Hardin-Simmons University contributed to this report.