By DAN JUNEAU

There are three types of people: those who coast on the work of others, those who complain but do not act, and those who get things done.

The Baton Rouge community lost one of its biggest “doers” this week when Jensen Holliday passed on.

Every community has its Jensen Holliday: the community activist who everyone goes to for organizing events, fundraising, and general leadership in the community.

Jensen was a giver, not a taker – a builder, not a breaker. He loved his community and was not happy unless he was totally immersed in it, making things happen. He touched many lives with his involvement, and those individuals will never forget him.

Jensen was a successful businessman who probably could have built an even larger enterprise if he had not given so much of himself to others. He was a pillar of his church, a champion of the arts and education, a political activist, and a person as happy volunteering to serve food at a homeless shelter as he was playing a well-deserved round of golf with his friends.

His style of leadership may seem “old fashioned” in the age of spin and hidden agendas, but the genuineness of the man simply could not be hidden.

There was no greater leader in the Baton Rouge business community than Jensen Holliday.

He served in top leadership roles in the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and numerous other business and civic organizations.

His voice was not a loud one in meetings. That was not his style. He was a consensus builder who measured success by forging unity, not by imposing his will on a group.

As with most of us, not everything he touched turned into an instant success, but once committed, he never stopped trying to reach a goal or keep a promise. He was one of a dying breed who believed that, once he gave his word or made a commitment, he had an obligation to make good on his promise.

I worked closely with Jensen in the political arena in the selection of candidates for endorsement by the business community. I often marveled at how he handled meetings with a room full of individuals who were pursuing personal agendas.

He would allow everyone to argue their points but would always bring the group around to support a candidate who would serve the common good of the business community, not one particular industry.

The “common good” is what Jensen Holliday was all about. Others will fill his positions in numerous organizations and commissions, but no one will ever truly take his place. He has gone on, I am sure, to a very just reward.

Every community has a Jensen Holliday or two. We pay tribute to them when they are gone, but the best tribute we can give them is to help them carry the load while they are still alive and active.

Volunteering is really easy when someone like Jensen is doing all the heavy lifting. Helping the “doers” in your community is a painless and inexpensive way to make it a much better place to live.

And Baton Rouge is a much better community, thanks to Jensen Holliday.

DAN JUNEAU is the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.