Hugh Kenneth "Ken" Holyoak, 72, of Alapaha died Friday, May 1, 2009, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Bishop Tommy Spikes, Elder Bruce Leet and Elder S. G. Solomon will officiate with burial to follow in Fletcher Cemetery in Alapaha. Larry Crumley, Jimmy Metts, Carl Ray, Dr. Mike Chiang, Michael Lee, Claude Dorminey, Lamar Hogan and Greg Davis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Branch, Jr. Dieas, Kenneth “Slim” Lee, Bill Lee, Hugh Roberts, Clifford Lee, J. H. Moore, John Joyce, Tim Moore, Don Turner, Larry Railey, Grady Keeter and employees of Ken’s Fish Hatchery. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 4, 2009, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Holyoak was born on November 23, 1936 in Enigma and was the son of Josiah Hugh Holyoak and Jewell Dorminey Holyoak, both deceased. He was president of Ken's Hatchery and Fish Farms, Inc. in Alapaha. He graduated from Tift County High School in 1956 and from the University of Georgia in 1959 with a B.S. in agriculture, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1959 to 1965. After returning from the Air Force, Ken began working with United States Steel Corporation.
In 1975, Ken attended Auburn University to study fish parasites and diseases. In 1980, he studied crawfish culture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. In 1980, Ken was selected for inclusion in “The Directory of Distinguished Americans” for his contribution to aquaculture and aquaculture products. In 1981, he was selected to appear in the 11th edition of “Personalities of the South” in recognition of achievements and outstanding service to community, state and nation. He was also presented, at the White House, the Presidential Achievement Award by President Ronald Reagan.
Ken’s professional participation has included the American Fisheries Society, the Research Committee of Catfish Farmers of America, the World Mariculture Society, the Crustacean Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Ken, who has worked with fish since his childhood and who began growing fish commercially in 1960, developed new breeds of fish through genetics and hybridization. He has developed ten varieties of hybrids, the most famous being the Georgia Giant Hybrid Bream. He studied all the major bullfrog operations in the world and studied the Amazon bullfrogs while visiting Brazil. He lived as the Amazon Indians lived, learning about the fish, frogs, and their culture in the Amazon River.
Ken traveled to over 33 countries during his career in aquaculture and Raniculture. He attributed his success to a God-given talent, hard work, and never being satisfied with his results. Over the past forty-six years, Ken has developed many items to make fish and frog farming easier and more profitable. He has over forty patents and trademarks on these items.
Mr. Holyoak is survived by his wife, Judy Wilson Holyoak of Alapaha; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jason and Kim Holyoak of Alapaha, and Hugh and Laura Holyoak of Enigma; and one grandchild, Kason Blaise Holyoak of Alapaha.
Flowers will be accepted or gifts may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, Inc., 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.