Body of ex-Cubs pitcher from Willis found

By Dale Lezon, The Houston Chronicle
July 10, 2009, 4:33PM

Searchers have recovered the body of 39-year-old Jessie Edward Hollins of Willis, Texas, a former Major League Baseball player who apparently drowned while fishing below Lake Livingston Dam on Thursday afternoon. Hollins was a native of Conroe.

Hollins, 39, was fishing with other people along the riverbank in Polk County when he disappeared into the water near the dam about 3 p.m., said officials with Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Officials said volunteers have scoured the area since last night in boats looking for him.

Texas Game Warden Capt. Shawn Phillips said searchers found Hollins’ body at about 4 p.m. Friday very close to the area where he was reported to have entered the Trinity River while fishing Thursday afternoon.

“We had a lot of help out here and everyone worked together really well,” Phillips said. “I’m glad we were finally able to make a recovery and that Mr. Hollins’ family can have some closure.”

The Montgomery County Precinct 1 Dive Team, the Trinity River Authority and the Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire Department as well as state Parks and Wildlife helped search for Hollins.

"This is a very popular fishing area, and there is a lot of debris in the water," said Texas Game Warden Capt. Shawn Phillips stated in a news release about the search. "It would be pretty easy to get tangled up in something down there."

Hollins was drafted in the 40th round by the Chicago Cubs in 1988 and was a September call-up in 1992, appearing in four games as a relief pitcher.