E.J. Holub graduated from Lubbock High School in 1957 and went on to attend Texas Technological College. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Holub was a two-time All-American center, in 1959 and 1960. He was the first player in Texas Tech football history to have his jersey number (55) retired.[1] He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor at Texas Tech. He was also inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana in 1986.
Even after nine knee surgeries, Holub was a leader, a "holler guy", and he was a team player, enduring pain to lead his team. He would spend hours in the training room, watching blood and liquid drain from his knee, then go out to the field and perform as though he was suffering from no physical problem.
With Holub's knees wearing out, the Chiefs selected his eventual successor, Jack Rudnay, in the 1969 NFL Draft. Rudnay took over the starting center position during the 1970 season, and Holub subsequently retired.
