| DAYTON, Ohio – Firefighter Vernon Holman | | | | The roadies were always playing jokes, so I didn't |
| worked as a chief photographer for the Dayton | | | | believe them." |
| newspaper Jet Stone News in 1979. One of his | | | | Holman said he wasn't going to walk on stage, |
| tasks was to photograph the Jacksons, (Tito, | | | | but changed his mind after Randy's tutor Rose |
| Marlon, Jackie, Randy and Michael) in concert at | | | | Fine, (who spent previous years traveling with the |
| the University of Dayton Arena for their Destiny | | | | Jackson 5) told him to. "We always listened to |
| tour. Though he can't remember the date of the | | | | Rose," he said. "We had this saying, |
| show, Holman said his first encounter with the | | | | ‘Whatever Rose says, goes. I asked her, |
| group remains fresh in his mind, making a lasting | | | | ‘Rose, is he talking to me?' She said, ‘Yes |
| impression on him. | | | | honey, he is. He wants you out there.'" |
| After arriving to the arena, Holman was | | | | Holman ran on stage with his camera toward |
| approached by someone interested in his | | | | Michael. "He whispered in my ear and asked, |
| photographs. "I went to the show, and right at | | | | ‘Can you keep up with me?'" He said speaking |
| the beginning a guy came up to me and asked if I | | | | of Michael. "I said, ‘Yeah I can keep up with |
| was a photographer," Holman said. "He said his | | | | you.'" Holman began getting close-up photographs |
| name was Steve Manning and said he was with | | | | of Michael and the rest of the Jacksons. He said |
| CBS records." Manning had a history with the | | | | Michael danced close to the edge of the stage |
| Jackson family. He was the Jackson 5's fan club | | | | and wanted pictures taken. "When the show was |
| president and remains close with the family | | | | over I looked at Michael and said, ‘Man, don't |
| today. | | | | you ever do that to me again,'" he said. "Michael |
| Holman said Manning wanted photographs of the | | | | laughed and we both laughed together." |
| show for Epic Records because the Jacksons | | | | When he and the group got to Detroit, Holman |
| were using a new stage that night. "The stage | | | | and Michael created a signal. "He would hold his |
| was elevating in the air and spinning around," he | | | | hands a certain way and that would be my cue." |
| said. "[Steve said] Dayton was going to be their | | | | When the Jacksons had free time, Holman said |
| first time using the stage." Holman photographed | | | | the group did things individually. "Randy was |
| the show, but wasn't sure if Manning was serious | | | | always with Rose doing his school work," he said. |
| about having pictures taken. | | | | "Tito stayed locked in his room, working on a |
| After the concert, Manning approached Holman | | | | model airplane, and Marlon and Jackie were [in |
| before he left. "When I told him I had the | | | | relationships.] They would fly back and forth to |
| pictures, [Steve] said, ‘I need some pictures | | | | their home a lot." |
| of the guys in the dressing room,'" Holman said. | | | | Holman said he spent a lot of his time with |
| "That's when I thought, ‘Wow, this guy's for | | | | Michael. "Michael would just stay in his room or on |
| real.' They were very kind and gracious." | | | | the tour bus," he said. "I would just hangout on |
| When the Jacksons returned to UD Arena a | | | | the bus with him." |
| couple years later, Holman returned to photograph | | | | |
| the group. While there, the Jacksons road | | | | Holman said he is grateful for his time spent with |
| manager Wanda Fields, who was in charge of the | | | | the Jacksons. He said he remembers them as |
| tour, approached him. At the time, Holman had a | | | | gracious individuals. Holman said he appreciates the |
| photography partner named Marsha Gebhardt. | | | | group because working with them gave him |
| Fields asked Holman if he and Gebhardt would be | | | | future opportunities involving photography. "I was |
| the Jacksons photographer while in town and said | | | | a stringer for Jet and Ebony magazine, and got to |
| they were staying at a hotel near the Dayton Mall. | | | | travel to neat places like South American, New |
| Holman agreed, but said he could only help on his | | | | Zealand and Paris," he said. "A guy named John |
| days off work. . "Being a Dayton firefighter had | | | | Baker was my new photography partner and we |
| me on different work hours," he said. "We | | | | got to spend two weeks in South America |
| worked 24 hours on and 48 hours off." | | | | together." |
| His time with the Jacksons in Dayton created the | | | | After Michael died June 25, 2009, Holman |
| opportunity for him to photograph the group in | | | | reflected on his memories and said, "He was just |
| three other cities – Cleveland, Columbus and | | | | a great, caring guy. Michael was truly a great |
| Detroit. He said he appreciates his memories with | | | | person. I want to thank him." |
| the brothers, but one of his favorites involves | | | | Holman said he'll never forget his days with the |
| Michael motioning him on stage. | | | | Jacksons, calling them priceless. According to him, |
| In the middle of the Jacksons show in Columbus, | | | | he is grateful and said, "I owe it all to God." |
| Holman said Michael was dancing and waving at | | | | |
| him to come on stage. "I kept looking at him, but | | | | Photographs stand copyright Vernon Holman. |
| wasn't sure if he was actually calling me out | | | | June 2009, The Dayton Daily News released an |
| there," Holman said. "[The road crew] looked at | | | | article about Holman. Read the article here. |
| me and said, ‘Vern, he wants you out there.' | | | | |