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The Writers Guild board kept Charles Holland in place as president, despite questions about the stories he tells about his background. I especially like that when the Times could not find any evidence to back up his claim that he played football for Illinois, Holland gave the paper the name of another player, and said it was him under an assumed name.
What did he think, the reporters wouldn't check?
Earlier, Holland provided The Times with the name under which he said he played football — with the condition it not be printed. The university confirmed that a wide receiver with that name played for the Fighting Illini.The Times located the player, now a member of the university's athletic board who works in Arizona as an account executive for drug maker Eli Lilly & Co.
[Board members] said Holland disputed that, saying the man whose name he used does not work in the pharmaceutical industry.
Oh well, that's OK then.
It must be said: nice to have someone who dabbles in fiction heading up the Writer's Guild.
Posted by: joseph at January 28, 2004 09:53 AM
NO ONE's military records are classified; if Mr. Holland was a Special Forces operator, it will say so in his DD-214.
If it does not, he was not.
His records should also indicate his MOS, Military Occupational Specialty, which will have a alphanumeric code, like 11B (Eleven Bravo - infantryman) or something similar.
There's a very good discussion of this in a book called "Stolen Valor" by Burkett and Whitley.
The Guild should know better. If what is in the Times is correct, this individual's credibility is suspect, to say the VERY least.
Regards
Posted by: Brad Smith at January 28, 2004 05:44 PMThis is a huge disgrace to the Writers Guild. As an ex-member of the board, all I can say is shame on them.
Posted by: Roger L. Simon at January 28, 2004 06:52 PMI am a member of the WGA and last year I attended a guild dinner also attended by Mr. Holland. At this event, he publicly stated that he was a Special Forces COMBAT veteran who "caught one" while he was in the service and was undergoing medical treatment for his gunshot wounds. If he was/is lying, this is absolutely disgraceful and a shame on the WGA.
Posted by: Doug at February 1, 2004 12:26 PMjust received holland's mass mailing defending himself to guild members and pledging to restore trust as he goes forward on contract negotiations. i assume this mailing was paid for with guild dues.
to be honest, i'm on the east coast and out of the guild loop most of the time. this was the first i'd heard of the controversy and i scoured the web to learn more. what i've read has been most disturbing.
it's obvious to me-- and anyone with half a brain-- that holland was full of shit when he bragged on his resume... and he's done nothing since but dig himself deeper. how the wga can keep this man at the fore as the union goes into negotiations is beyond me. holland now lacks credibility... his honesty is in question. is this the man who should be at the table negotiating on behalf of the membership?
if the board isn't smart enough, or lacks the balls, to get this man out of office, then holland should suck it up and step down before the image of the wga is tarnished further.
Posted by: Steve at February 3, 2004 12:36 PM
of LA Observed
I like that his military records are so top-secret that they're classified. Unlike other spies who are regularly outed in the daily papers.
Posted by: Kate at January 28, 2004 07:22 AM