Matthew W. Schuh - 11/06/2001
I really didn't like Pete at all the first time I met him. I really didn't care for him much the next few times I met him either. Pete struck me as cocky, arrogant, and just downright mean. Granted, I was an immature and probably somewhat obnoxious Sophomore serving on the Illinois Eastern Iowa District Key Club board with him. Over the next few months Pete and I began to talk online and found that we really didn't dislike each other as much as we thought we did. Pete's "tough love" approach to my immaturity proved to be the best thing I possibly could have asked for.

In April of 1998, Pete was elected as the Key Club Governor of the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District. That same weekend I was elected District Secretary. While I looked forward to working with him, I had no idea that year would be a life-altering experience. From our ridiculous parodies of basically EVERYTHING to our what seemed to be monthly drives across the state of Illinois together, I truly grew to respect this individual more than he will ever know. Did we disagree on things? Absolutely. A better question would be if we agreed on things. But from Pete I learned the art of respectful disagreement. From that, we were able to separate our difference of opinion concerning Key Club and be the best of friends.

Since Pete's departure from Key Club, and subsequent relocation to Alabama, I haven't been able to have the contact with him that we did before. However, there isn't a day of the year that I couldn't call him up and it be just like old times. Pete is truly an incredible friend and an incredible person. I wish him the best of luck in all that he does.

Jeff Swearingen - 10/31/2001
When I first met Pete, I thought "What were the Key Clubbers that elected this guy thinking???" After spending yet another weekend with Pete, I thought to myself "What were the people in Buffalo NY that elected Pete to his office of International Vice-P..... thinking???" What can I say - I've seen him make a fool out of himself on many occasions (I think I even paid money to ensure he had a pie thrown at him in Mt. Vernon IL one year...) and he's got enough dirt on me to last a lifetime (talking about certain t-shirt ideas over dinner at K-East, trying to order Chinese food in Buffalo, throwing together a last-minute campaign, a certain incident with a bottle...). Hey, at least he does give me a certain amount of credit for "borrowing" my guidebook for his platform last year (come on, we all know that the K-Family is really all about lying, cheating and stealing anyway!)...

He's bailed me out of situations before and will yet again...and at least tells me which ones he can't help out on... The worst thing about it is that now his sister and mine apparently get along after Washington DC - which means another Holiday-Swearingen alliance may just be around the corner...be afraid...the next one could be much worse than the first!

Amy Althoff - 10/17/2001
The first conscious thought you evoked from me was, "Who's the guy in glasses?" It lasted for all of two seconds as I dismissed it to finish sorting through 2000+ leaves of paper for convention. That has been the one and only time I've been able to summarily dismiss you from my life. You managed to become one of my dearest friends within hours and continue to be, despite the vast extent of terrain and phone bills that generally separate us 364 days of the year. We've danced together at balls (badly - both of us), made less than sensical travel arrangements to see each other, argued amicably for hours, and contemplated the non-traditional uses of butter among the over 40 crowd. May I see you soon...

Amy is definitely the smartest person I know... why she puts up with my relative ignorance is beyond me. :)

Kecia Holiday - 10/01/2001
Pete Holiday, also known as the eldest and wisest of the Holiday children is my brother. I, Kecia Holiday, also known as "Pete's little sis.." am writing a little note to say how much I am proud of him. He has been the one that I've been compared to all my life and it frustrates me sometimes, but then I realize why I have been.....

Let's see...he's so smart, he's a great leader, even though sometimes hard-headed...wait ALL the time he's like that! Pete is the greatest guy I know. You put what's important to you first without letting anyone take that away from you. Wrong or right you'll never back down to the way you feel. If I was half as strong as you were maybe I'd have more self-esteem then I do now. Might I add that I really don't have a self-esteem! I serve as the Illinois-Iowa District Hist/Parlimentarian for the 2001-2002 year. Pete you have brought Key Club into the lives of your siblings and for that I thank you. It's a wonderful thing:)

I am completely different from you..Pete, yet I feel as though we have one thing in common and that's passion. Whatever I do, it's out of passion..not just done because I have to or because I need to. I have given my heart and soul to three things in life: family + friends, Key Club and volleyball. Volleyball this year has been a struggle, and I'm fighting because when things were at the point of the end, mom came back and told me what you had regreted in high school. And that was " Don't let one person take away that thing that you love" In your case it was football, and in my case it is volleyball, because of that statement you kept me fighting for that one thing that makes me happy in life. The one thing that makes me feel like I am here for some reason. In class, yeah I'm a good student, but there's better. And yes, Key Club makes me feel good about life, but I'm not a necessity. Volleyball, I am one of the main people, yet one person made me feel like I wasn't. It hurt really bad. Because of you, you m Pete, I love you and know that whatever you do in life, you'll be successful in. Just living, you show me courage, confidence, and passion. Things I lack in, but feel I can get by just looking up to you for the answers. Thanks for always being there to help me get motivated to run for Hist/Parli. and thanks for helping me recently on Programming. (One of the things I have no idea in and yet you can explain it to me perfectly!) I just want to let you know that I will always believe in you and love you for what you've done and what your doing. Your my hero and just know that I will be there watching you and looking to you for answers. SO DON"T MESS UP :) He he he. I'd thought I'd break the mushy crap and put something funny in. So,thank you and I love you.

Much love back to the older of my little sisters... she's a lot cooler than she lets on in the testimonial.

Kim Wilhelm - 09/27/2001
So this is my Pete Holiday testimonal... I met Pete Holiday at The Ohio District Key Club Convention in 1999. Pete was about to retire at the Governor the the Illnois-Eastern Iowa District and I was a very, very new Lieutenant Governor from Ohio... (as in was appointed earlier that day!) Pete and I have some mutual friends and through Miss Amy Althoff and Ms. Becky Stoltz, two wonderful girls from my hometown, Pete and I met and quickly became friends. However, after that convention I seldom heard from Pete... but anytime someone would mention Iowa (the part of the Illinios-Eastern Iowa District Pete didn't like to claim!), my thoughts always went back to this interesting, fun-loving, definately cynical, and loveable character from good ol' I-I.

This past summer at Circle K International Convention in Buffalo, NY, I was napping in my hotel room when my Governor and past Governor walk in discussing candidates for different International offices. My drowsy ears made out two words... Pete... Holiday. I sat straight up in bed and managed to mumble the question "What'd you just say?!" After the reluctant repetition from my friends, I layed back down and wondered to myself if he'd remember me as vividly as I remembered him. The next day was caucus time... as I stood up to ask this one particular candidate from the Alabama District a question... I got a look. He did remember me! :o)

The following afternoon I ran into Pete at an event where we had a little time to catch up before he had to run off to campaign his life away. I told Pete then, and I still do believe, that he is a phenomenal leader with a true heart of gold. As we parted, I wished him the best of luck and assured him that his dedicated work and passion would soon pay off. The following evening, Pete was installed into the second highest office in all of Circle K International: the position of International Vice-President. As I sat and watched Pete take his oath of office, I was thrilled to know that my friend, first from Illnois and now from hailing from Alabama, was going to be leading this phenomenal organization to the very best of his ability!

Pete-- I am so proud of you! I hope someday I will be able to become even half the leader you have already proven to be! It is a pleasure knowing you and an honor calling you my friend!

Aww... how sweet is Kim?? I am glad that she caught the look I gave her in caucus, because I did recognize her but I wasn't about to have a little renunion right there in the middle of caucusing. The campaign staff would've beaten me senseless.

Kathleen Carosi - 09/19/2001
Hmm what to say about Pete..in the little while that I have known him he has already shown that he can be a great friend. I am amazed at the way his mind works and I feel like I can see the wheels spinning (especially when we are discussing certain CKI topics). I look forward to getting to know him better throughout the years and enjoy turning to this website for fun facts about Pete.

The wheel is spinning, Kathleen, but the hampster is dead.

Ara Holiday - 09/17/2001
When Pete was 5 years old, he went to Disney Land. After haveing a great time on the rides, Pete and his parents got something to eat. Well Pete had to go to the bathroom. He decided to pulll down his pants and start peeing on the garbage can!! His mother and father argued about who was going to claim him and get him to pull his pants back up! Hopefully, by today, he has learned to find the bathroom!

Thanks sis... I love you too.

Morgan Westman - 09/11/2001
I recently revealed to Petey that he was my big "Key Club mentor" during high school, which means a lot, I think, to Kiwanis-family nerds like us. I guess he didn't know it until a few days ago, but Pete has had a truly profound impact on my life, has largely -- although unknowingly -- shaped the person I have become since we met my sophomore year in high school.

When we met at the first-ever Fall Leadership Conference in Dixon, Illinois, Petey was the Key Club Illinois-Eastern Iowa District Governor (Mr. Big Stuff), and I but a lowly grass-roots member. I felt that, over the weekend, he saw a potential in me to do great things; coming from a family that didn't support most of the good-doing I was "wasting" my time with at that point in my life, Petey's support meant a lot to me, gave me confidence, gave me the motivation to do what he thought I could.

So after he introduced me to another KC mentor, Chris Novotny, my friends and I got together and brought our measley Hinsdale Central Key Club out of delinquency; we began to provide members with more service opportunities than we'd ever had ourselves. This might not seem like much, again, but I joined KC because I wanted to make a difference; Petey helped me gain the confidence to change my surroundings for the better.

With the confidence he helped me find, I decided to apply for the seemingly divine position of I-I District Editor. I got it. But I wouldn't have even considered applying were it not for my Petey's initial and continued support.

So, to put it simply, I spent my senior year in high school trying to remain a person Petey'd be proud of. And, as I've said time and time again, I wanted to be for others what Petey has been for me -- a mentor, . . . an inspiration, even. My year as a District officer, I made friends I'll keep forever, I held a lock-in that raised $1020 for Iodine Deficiency Disorder in a single night, and I spread my KC gospel about how one person can make a difference. These are some of the greatest accomplishments I've ever realized. I don't think I would've had a chance to do any of those things if I hadn't met my Petey, and that's the truth.

So anyway, maybe this is too Morgan and too little Pete, but you get the general idea. I've always had a little Petey on my shoulder/in my corner, and that's helped me be the person I am now. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the goofy guy who took the time to make a difference in the life of a little, suburban girl like me. I only wish I could repay the favor.

Some things you just can't respond to.

Kristi Hill - 9/7/2001
Pete Holiday-wow, I'm not sure if I can write just one paragraph about Pete. I'm gonna try, so here it is! Pete is definitely one of the coolest people to be around. In my opinion, he's what one might call an "aquired taste". Certainly not for everyone! If you can't take lots of wit, humor, and the occasional put-down, you'd better steer clear. No, really, Pete is a great guy. My Circle K experience wouldn't be half as awesome if it wasn't for the great and wonderful Pete Holiday himself. As everyone knows, I have this laughing problem when I am around Pete. I can't seem to quit laughing! Even if he's not intentionally cracking a joke, I will probably find some sort of humor in it. Nothing will ever be better than the time that he permanently implanted the phrase "I shit you not!" into my brain! Anyway, all in all, I completely adore Pete Holiday! Everyone should at least get to spend a little time with Pete, cause he's Great!

Karl Greenwood - 9/7/2001
Well, you want me to be funny Pete? Let's see, you're probably the only person with a name that could bring some excitement to the House of Delegates at Circle K Convention in Buffalo! You're definitely someone who could bring the tone of the debate over the Millennium Plan down with some humor!