Honoring the Memory of Jim Holloran

Dear Friends,

It was with heavy hearts that we received the news that our beloved supporter, friend, and mentor, Jim Holloran, passed away this week.

For more than twenty years, Jim provided The Soulard School with guidance and oversight. His support was pivotal in the founding and growth of our community. As the father of my co-founder Kelly Holloran, Jim was an early and enthusiastic supporter of The Little School and Gym, which grew to become The Soulard School in 2004.

Jim served on the Board of Directors for both The Soulard School and Soulard Education Center, including as chair of both organizations. He helped shepherd the school through our transition from independent to charter school in 2019.

Jim was also the proprietor of McGurk's Irish Pub and Garden in Soulard. In the early days of The Soulard School, students looked forward to Friday lunches provided by the Irish Pub up the street, served in our cozy and appropriately named McGurk's Room.

Our annual benefit concert, Reach for the Stars, was started by Jim more than 12 years ago as Clovers & Stars to combine his love of Irish music and The Soulard School. What started as a few tables at McGurks grew to a full-scale event at The Sheldon, which raised more than $130,000 under his watch this year. 

He also had personal connections within our school - six of his grandchildren attended, including four alumni (Harry Bock, class of 2014; Tedda Bock, 2016; Will Bock, 2019 and Frances Bock, 2020) and he regularly attended grandparent events.

Jim was a well-known St. Louis lawyer with a JD from St. Louis University, who served as Board President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as board member of the American Trial Lawyers Association. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Commercial Bank of Westport. Jim was active in many St. Louis institutions and charitable organizations, serving on the Dean’s Council for St. Louis University Law School, and the boards of Loyola Jesuit Middle School, Vianney High School, and Lifebridge. In 2025, Jim was inducted into the Order of the Fleur de Lis, the highest honor for alumni of SLU Law School. Additionally, he was an integral part of the Soulard neighborhood as owner of John D. McGurk’s Pub.

Jim brought to the school his legal expertise, as well as deep connections to a network of philanthropic families and nonprofits in the city. His support truly made The Soulard School possible and he will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.

Fondly, 

Sarah