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Dr. Holtz started his Government career in 1934 as a Junior Chemist in the Navy Department and transferred to the bureau of mines as Associate Gas Engineer on December 1, 1936. Because of his capabilities, Bureau assignments were varied with increasing responsibilities. Starting with research on gaseous products from explosives, he also organized, directed and worked with other Bureau scientists conducting pioneering research on diesel exhaust products. This work led to the establishment of the present Bureau of Mines Schedules 22, 24 and 31 for diesel mine locomotives, mobile-diesel-powered equipment for non-coal mines, and mobile-diesel-powered equipment for gassy non-coal mines and tunnels.

Dr. Holtz’s publication of Bureau of Mines R.I. 5616, “Safety with Mobile-Diesel-Powered Equipment Underground” is used internationally as a basic reference for diesel performance and operational characteristics in mines and tunnels. His experience with explosives was utilized during World War II in the conduct of a variety of research projects on explosives and propellant systems. Following the war, he assumed additional administrative responsibilities at the Bureau of Mines installation in Grand Forks, North Dakota; Morgantown, West Virginia,and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

For his eminent career in Bureau of Mines and his outstanding achievement in the field of safety with diesel-powered equipment, Dr. Holtz was granted the highest award of the Department of the Interior, its Distinguished Service Award, on
June 8, 1967.

2010 Holtz speaker, Bernhard Palsson, takes a a few photos with professors from the department. Left: Dr. Konstantopoulos and Dr. Palsson; Top: Dr. Gray, Dr. Palsson, and Dr. Asthagiri; Bottom: Dr. Palsson and Dr. Betenbaugh.