Preston B. Holtzendorff, Jr. was born on November 9, 1894 near Rome, Georgia, the son of Preston B. Holtzendorff, Sr. and Agnes W. Drake Holtzendorff. He graduated from law school at the University of Georgia in 1916. Shortly afterwards in June 1916 he came to Clemson College at the post of Assistant General Secretary of the YMCA before being called in February 1918 into the military service during World War I. During the conflict he served with the U.S. Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant. After the war, he joined with his brothers in their Tulsa, Oklahoma law practice and married Ann Linton of Georgia in 1919. In June 1919, he returned to Clemson and was elected to the post of General Secretary of the YMCA, replacing Roy John. For the next forty years at Clemson until his retirement in 1959, Holtzendorff oversaw religious, social, and recreational activities at the "Y" such as Evening Watch prayer groups, Freshman Focus, "Y" Council, Sunday evening Vesper Services, and intramural sports programs. Holtzendorff served as Clemson's freshman football coach in the early 1920s and later as the college swimming coach. Preston B. Holtzendorff, Jr. died on January 28, 1971, and is buried at Cemetery Hill on Clemson University's campus. The YMCA building, which was built in 1916, was named in honor of Holtzendorff in 1971.
From the description of Preston B. Holtzendorff, Jr. papers, 1918-1973. (Clemson University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 219722472
