Industry Mourns Passing of Clearspan Components’ Dan Holland

With great sadness, SBCA shares that Dan Holland, 61, died suddenly at his home in Daleville on January 17, 2024, the day before his 62nd birthday.  

Dan was president of Clearspan Components, Inc., in Meridian, and a significant and selfless contributor to his industry and the association. He served as president of SBCA in 2004, at a time when the industry was growing very rapidly on the housing market boom. His calm demeanor and thoughtful insight helped steer the organization down a solid path that helped it survive the prolonged housing downturn. 

Dan’s relationship with his Senator during that time, Trent Lott (R-MS), also played a significant role in the softwood lumber trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada in the early 2000s. In a meeting with the then Senate Majority Leader, Dan and a group of his fellow component manufacturers convinced Lott that the dispute and subsequent U.S. trade protections, had a negative impact on the industry and the broader U.S. economy. That conversation led to the abolition of the Byrd Amendment, which paved the way for a lasting trade agreement. 

Dan was also humble. When he was inducted into SBCA’s Hall of Fame in 2009, he joked that he’d now have to do something noteworthy to keep his award. He promptly convinced an industry in the depths of the Recession to start a major charity event, BCMC Build. 

Dan said he thought a charitable event would unite people toward a common, positive goal, and potentially appeal to people who wouldn’t attend BCMC otherwise. “The show has typically been very machine-focused. I don’t think that’s enough anymore, especially during a time when the industry wasn’t expanding a whole lot,” Dan said of his motivation. “There’s a strong need to reach out to people who feel they don’t have a reason to come to the show.” 

A close industry friend, Rick Parrino of US LBM, says Dan was consistently one step ahead of the rest. “He’s always the guy who comes up with ‘Why aren’t we doing this?’ ideas,” says Rick. “He’s the kind of a guy that says, ‘Let’s make this happen!’ and ‘I’ll start out by making a donation!’” It was this attitude and action that earned Dan the 2015 SBCA Industry Leadership Award. 

Dan was also a big proponent of quality control, and an early champion of the Digital QC program alongside Scott Ward of Southern Components. Their efforts ultimately led to the cutting-edge software platform the industry uses today. 

Funeral services for Mr. Daniel N. Holland will begin at 11:00 AM Monday, January 22, 2024 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home chapel with Reverend Eric Mabbott officiating. Interment will follow at Daleville Cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. 

The Holland Family will receive guests from 9:30 AM until 10:45 AM prior to funeral rites in the chapel.  

For further information, please view his full obituary.