About our Nominee

Hal Holsten lives in Gulf Breeze and is originally from Birmingham, AL. He moved here in 1968, when he got transferred here from General Motors. He is now retired with a wife, named Linda, and a son named Chip. He was an insurance adjustor. For the last 15 years of his career, he did disaster work. His wife and him worked together and had a wonderful time together. Hal loves our area and has no plans to go anywhere else.

 

 

Q & A

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career/owning your business?

Well, when I was in school I went to Jacksonville State University in Alabama. One of my professors, Dr. Franklin, told me that when you get out of school, you go out and get a nice suit and then go to the unemployment office and tell them your skills. They know where all the jobs are. So, I did that and they sent me to General Motors. They did a lot of testing with car insurance. They had about 400 people and hired 4. I was one of those 4 and all of us went to school together.

I trained there in Birmingham and as soon as I was done, they sent me to Mobile. My wife and I went and picked out a place there. Then, I was picked up and taken to Pensacola. My wife was pregnant and came down a couple months later. I worked for multiple insurance companies until I retired with Geico.

 

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Navarre?

I have lived in Gulf Breeze since 1968.

 

Q: Who is the most interesting person/business owner you’ve met here in Gulf Breeze/Navarre?  Who would you like to see nominated as a Face of Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

Chip Holsten. I know he has already been nominated though. He’s a good business man.

 

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people starting their own business?

Surround yourself with good people and if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. Be honest with people and try to give them all the service you can. If you tell them you’re going to do something, make sure you do it and follow through.

 

Q: What current or former local business makes you most nostalgic about Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

The Blue Angels for sure and of course the beach. It’s paradise here.

 

Q: Where do you see yourself (and your career/business) in 5 or 10 years?

I hope I’m still alive. I’m going to be in the same house in Gulf Breeze. I’ll be about 83 or 84.

 

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Gulf Breeze/Navarre, and what do you love there? (What is your favorite dish, and where do you get it?)

Probably Grand Marlin and I like Shrimp Basket. My favorite dishes are shrimp and catfish.

 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I’d probably like to go to Italy. Linda wants to go there, she’s been to Europe a lot, but I don’t think she’s ever been to where her family was from.

 

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

The first move I ever saw was Miracle on 34th St. It came out in 1947. That was at the Alabama Theater. It’s like a palace in there. That and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. My favorite movie is probably Forest Gump. Another one is Goodbye Mr. Chips. It came out in 1939, the same year as the Wizard of Oz.

 

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

Everything really, there is just so much available. There’s the water and the beach. It’s all amazing.

 

Q: Choosing anyone alive or dead: with whom would you love to have lunch?  Why?

Probably my dad. I would take him to the boardhouse, Hopkins. I used to have my office right around there.

 

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

I was a bodybuilder. I was actually Mr. Alabama in 1962 and Mr. Birmingham too.

 

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

69 Highpoint, where I live. As soon as you cross that bridge after you’ve been gone for a while, it’s just fantastic. You can smell the water before you even cross the bridge.

 

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

Maybe Suzanne from that Bob Newhart show where they had a bed and breakfast. It was a good movie.

 

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

I would choose a chef.

 

 

Be sure to check out what our other nominees had to say!