Written by Ben Cox – BrownwoodNews.com would like to offer a “tip of our cap” to a selection of ladies in town that have made a positive impact on the lives of those around them. Whether by profession, passion or pastime, these ladies contribute a rich part to the fabric of Brownwood, and we feel they deserve to have their time in the spotlight. We present to you The Leading Ladies of Brownwood.
This week’s leading lady is Kim Holland. I sat down with Kim and asked her our list of questions that each Leading Lady will be asked, and here are her responses:
- What is your current profession/What do you do?
I am a detective for the Brownwood Police Department.
- Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in San Angelo. I grew up a little bit of everywhere. I grew up in Grape Creek, then I moved to Stanton when I was in 5th grade, and I moved to Brownwood my senior year.
- Are your parents still around?
Yes, they live in Bangs. Thankfully. Very involved with my life, and my kiddo’s.
- What are some of your fondest memories of childhood?
Probably hanging out with my dad building stuff. I was a huge Daddy’s girl. So anywhere he was, I was there. I enjoy building stuff and working with my hands, so anything with my dad.
- Who left a lasting impression upon you that still is with you today?
Ya know, that’s a tough one….
I gotta say my mom. She is kinda who I look to to show what kind of mom I wanna be. What type of caregiver. She’s a huge part of my life, she keeps my baby girl every single day, she’s an amazing woman.
- What do you hope your legacy will be?
I hope that people will look back and say “she made a difference.”
- What is one lesson that you would like young people to take with them into adulthood?
That you have to work for the things that you have. Never take anything for granted and never take any one for granted.
- Why are those lessons important?
I worked for everything I’ve ever had. I’ve worked my butt off to get where I am today. I put myself through school, being a single mom that was incredibly hard. I think you just appreciate the things more if you have to work hard for them.
- How has living in Brownwood shaped your life?
Well, ya know, work wise I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a relatively small community compared to the other place I’ve worked in the past. You get to know the people that you work with and for, cause I feel I work for the community. Whenever I was on patrol I could go to a call and be like “hey, how’s it going? You still working here? You still with so and so” you get involved with the people that you deal with and you get to know their situations and I feel you have a little bit more empathy towards them. I feel Brownwood is a good community, we have our bad stuff, but on the whole Brownwood is a good community to work for.
- If you could speak to yourself as a High School freshman, what would you say to yourself?
(laughs) I would say “have a stronger sense of self.” Have that self esteem, find out who you are, and don’t let others shape who you are. Have a stronger sense of who you are.
- What is one goal for yourself/family that you haven’t achieved yet?
For our family, we have rental houses and we own our own business, and so a goal that we have is to own 10 rental properties and build a house.
- What about a goal for yourself?
In the future whenever people start to retire I would like to become Sergeant for CID. (Criminal Investigations Division)
I’m gonna RUN this place! (laughs)
- How do you feel you have impacted Brownwood?
Hopefully for the better. I feel that with the community involvement that I have, which I feel is very strong, my goal dealing with people every single day is how can I help them. Getting sex offenders off the street I feel that’s something that’s very rewarding. But I feel at this job I have been able too impact and help a lot of people, that’s why I got in this profession.
- What is one thing you’d like to see for the future of Brownwood?
I would like to see more housing, better paying jobs, an establishment where juveniles can go and have somewhere to focus their time and energy where they’re not running the streets. Something for people to go and do on dates. Anything to benefit the community. Because we have so many kids running the streets right now, and that is who is committing the burglary of vehicles right now. I just had four cases in January where guns were stolen out of vehicles and all of them were committed by teenagers.
- What makes you proud to live in Brownwood?
I would say how supportive our community is. For instance my daughter had medical problems and our police association had a fund raiser and the whole community showed up and donated and showed me really how blessed I was to live here. It was a huge eye opening experience. We live in a great community.
- What does it mean to you to be considered one of the “Leading Ladies of Brownwood?”
It’s not something that I expected. It’s not something that I would even consider myself as. It’s an honor to think that people think of me that way, it’s a huge honor. I hope I make a positive impact on people. I was definitely surprised and very appreciative!