O Captain, our Captain

"Hero living among us"

In one’s life, it is important to have real life heroes. Heroes inspire us to be more and go further than we think we can.  In our world, in Citrus County our swim team is blessed to have such a hero in our lives, Captain Thomas T. Holme, Jr., US Navy (Ret.) who is known to most of us as merely “Captain”.

Captain has had an inspirational collegiate career and is a highly decorated U.S. Naval Officer. Captain, after retiring from the Navy, taught at Crystal River High School and has spent over three decades as a swim coach in Citrus County, even after retiring from a second and third career.

He has dedicated his life each day to be great citizens in Citrus and Hernando Counties, not simply as a coach in the water, but in life in general.  It is one of the many reasons why that from our small swim program here in Citrus county which generally has only two or three high school seniors each year, over the last 25 plus years since it began, with the work and influence of Captain, we have had over 27 young people that have gone on to swim collegiately at NCAA Division I, II, and III, including: FSU, US Naval Academy, Florida Tech, Norwich University, Indian River, Florida Southern, VMI and others.  In addition two of his former swimmers have become Navy Seals.

What makes Captains such an inspiration and such an impressive coach may well have to do with his own life experiences.  Captain is always teaching the ideals of honesty, integrity, fair play and sportsmanship in addition to the life skills and values of hard work and dedication to oneself, family, community and country.

Tim Holme, entered the US Navy in 1963 from the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Regular Program after graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  Later, in 1971, Captain Holme received a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Maryland.  He was elected to Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society while at the University of Maryland.

Captain was a qualified submariner and a proven sub specialist in both Intelligence and Political/Military Strategic Planning.  He attended Submarine School, Defense Intelligence School, and the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of State.  Captain Holme completed the nine-month Postgraduate Intelligence Program at the Defense Intelligence School in 1969 and returned in 1984 to pursue Attaché training.

Captain Holme has held a variety of assignments at sea and ashore.  Captain Holme was Assistant Intelligence Officer for Commander Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet.  He was the commander of  USS WATERFORD (ARD-5), from 1977 to 1979, served as Technical Advisor for the development of the first Docking Officer Curriculum ever written.  Later, from 1980 to 1982, Captain Holme served first as Executive Officer of  USS HOWARD W. GILMORE (AS-16),  and the USS HOLLAND (AS-32). In 1982 Captain Holme returned to Commander Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Special Security and Special Operations

Following these assignments, Captain Holme served as Naval Attaché in Moscow in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic.  In October 1986, Captain Holme was declared "persona non grata" (e.g. "an unwelcome person”) by the Soviet Government and was expelled with his family in an act of political reciprocity.  From 1986 to 1989, Captain Holme was assigned as Assistant National Intelligence Officer for General Purpose Forces on the staff of The National Intelligence Council.  For his work there, the Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) awarded him the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement.

Captain Holme spent his last two years on active duty as Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Florida.  During this assignment he became familiar with the Naval Junior ROTC Program by hosting units on their frequent orientation visits to the Navy's only coed boot camp.

Following retirement from the Navy, Captain Holme was not ready to simply retire and he became the Senior Naval Science Instructor at Crystal River High School for the Naval Junior ROTC Program.  After over 10 years of services as the SNSI, Captain Holme became the Political Science teacher at CRHS and retired in 2007.  During his time at CRHS he initiated the varsity swimming and diving programs at CRHS and served as Head Coach until the 2005 season, having coached to win more than a dozen FHSAA District Titles.  In 1995 Captain Holme founded our Sun Coast Swim Team which has established itself as the source of many of Citrus County’s very best competitive athletes.

Captain Holme's personal decorations include: the Legion of Merit with gold star; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; and the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars.

Captain was a teacher and/or coach to many of Citrus County’s finest individuals, including Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek and his wife, Amy, and CRHS Dean Cliff Dyer just to name a few.  Former students and former colleagues often share their feelings about the impact Captain had on their lives.

His work continues.  Most days you will find Captain at the Bicentennial Pool in Crystal River, Florida on the pool deck working with the young people of our community.  It doesn’t stop at the pool's edge either.  If a student needs help Captain is there.  If a student is looking to plan for their college future, Captain is right there. If help is needed by any person they are coaching, have coached or maybe someone who just stops by, you can count on Captain playing a vital positive role in that person’s life

Captain has played an important role in both my own children’s life.  Hearing his name, one immediately thinks, respect and reverence.  As one person said to me years ago about Captain, “We all should be blessed enough to have a Captain in our lives’”.  Well, our Sun Coast Swim Team is most definitely blessed to have Our Captain!