Dr. Nedra Downing’s new book is a memoir of her son, Tom Hollar. Photo by Phil Custodio

BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
Dr. Nedra J. Downing’s new book “When Tom Went West” is personal for the author, sharing the story of her son, Tom Hollar.
“Its purpose is to remember Tom and go through healing – remembering is good,” Downing said. “I was really afraid my son would only be remembered for his sensational death.”
Hollar was murdered in a gang carjacking in Denver in 1993, where he became a symbol of a summer of violence suffered by the area at the time.
“They were having a lot of drive-by shootings,” Downing said. “Every year there’s a candlelight vigil, just to remember Tom. We held a candle vigil on July 23, 2016, in Denver at dusk at the place Tom died. We were so pleased that 20 people still attended 23 years after Tom’s death.”

The book chronicles Hollar’s life in Michigan and his move to Denver where he became a successful entrepreneur.
“The first half is schmaltzy, about my son growing up in Flushing,” Downing said. “He had an exceptionally good childhood. It was fun, going back over the memories. We did a lot of things.”
He and his sisters Margaret and Laura were raised with solid family traditions.
“I pushed for the traditional family dinner,” Nedra said. “Every time he came home, we would have dinner together. Looking back, I’m glad about that.”
He and his friends liked to gather in the back yard or playroom, playing with army men and matchbox cars in his sandbox, building wooden forts, and later building a skateboard ramp in the backyard.
“It took up the whole yard,” Nedra said. “Kids from all over Flushing would come over. I don’t remember anybody getting hurt.”
He attended Western Michigan for two years, then went west to Wyoming at age 22, where he worked on a ranch.
He later moved to Denver, where he set up a store called Imi Jimi, selling sunglasses, skateboards, shoes, and trendy garments, and sponsoring a teen skateboard team.
“He went with nothing, and started a business,” Nedra said. “He met his wife, Christina. They did very well.”
On July 23, 1993, two Crips gang members were cruising the parking lot of their apartment building looking for victims when they found Tom and Christina in their car.
“They shot him,” Nedra said. “I’ve had dreams about some of this. It’s in the book. We got a call that night and flew to Denver.”
She wrote about the walk to the morgue to identify her son.
“It was like he wasn’t my son anymore –he was a piece of evidence,” she said. “He looked like he was just asleep, like it was a prank.”
Christina was beaten but saved by police. The gang members were caught, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The tragedy of the event and the subsequent trial and convictions of the gang members in the random violent attack were heavily covered by local news and marked a pivotal moment for the city.
“Seeing him on the TV news made it seem real,” Nedra said. “We didn’t know what a big deal it would be in Denver.”
Dr. Downing had just opened her first office on Sashabaw Road when this tragedy occurred.
“Writing poetry helped me express emotions as I lived through these events,” she said. “These poems are part of the book.”
She also included a large number of photos of Tom and events in his life, including many around the Denver community’s response to Tom’s death and the trial.
“I went through lots of photos, and eliminated lots,” she said. “The work was very therapeutic. I don’t cry about it as much anymore but it shaped my life for sure.”
“When Tom Went West” is available at Amazon.com, softcover and eBook; Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver or online at www.tatteredcover.com/when-tom-went-west; and The Downing Clinic, 5715 Bella Rose Blvd., Suite 100, which Nedra founded and is now retired.
“I still like to write. I have a very good life, working here for 20 years,” she said. “Retirement has been good.”
Call 248-625-6677 or check www.whentomwentwest.com.