Thomas Holloran, a lawyer and former Medtronic executive, died Thursday evening at age 94.
In nearly a century of life, Holloran accomplished many feats in the business, legal, academic and political worlds. He left his legacy on the University of St. Thomas as an instrumental part of opening the college’s law school in 2001 and founding the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership there in 2006.
The center’s goal is to help lawyers become ethical leaders in their communities.
“He was a key player. He really was involved up until probably just before COVID,” said Jerry Organ, co-director of the Holloran Center.
Holloran was a Minnesotan through-and-through. Born in 1929, he grew up in south Minneapolis before attending Washburn High School and the University of Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1952-54 during the Korean War before starting his career at Wheeler and Fredrikson law firm, which evolved into Fredrikson & Byron.
While still a partner in 1967, Holloran hired John Stout to the firm. The 83-year-old continues to practice there with a focus on corporate governance.
“He was a highly respected senior partner,” Stout said. “Tom was one of the people who set the culture at Fredrikson.”
While at the firm, Holloran incorporated Medtronic in 1957. He later joined the med-tech company in executive roles serving as general counsel, then executive vice president and ultimately president. He worked at Medtronic from 1967-75 and joined its board of directors in 1960, serving on it for 40 years.
