William Elmer Holt (October 14, 1884 – March 1, 1945) was an American politician. He served as the tenth Governor of Montana from 1935 to 1937. Biography Holt was born in Savannah, Missouri, and moved with his family to a ranch in Miles City, Montana. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1902. He married Lora Howe and they had two children. Career Holt was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 1912, and served one term. He was a member of the Montana State Senate from 1933 to 1935, and was chosen as president pro tempore in 1935. He became governor upon the death of Governor Frank Henry Cooney on December 15, 1935. Holt was defeated for reelection in 1936. He served as the delegate to Democratic National Convention from Montana in 1936. Holt retired from political life, and later served as a land agent for Northern Pacific Railroad in Seattle, Washington. Death Holt died on March 1, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, where he was with the Northern Pacific Land Office. References External links State of Montana governors list National Governors Association biography Former Montana Governors Montana Historical Society The Political Graveyard 1884 births 1945 deaths University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni Democratic Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Democratic Party Montana state senators Democratic Party governors of Montana People from Savannah, Missouri Methodists from Montana People from Miles City, Montana 20th-century American politicians