During the course of his distinguished career, Eddie Holloway has built up a pretty impressive resume, serving with the Hattiesburg City Council, the University of Southern Mississippi, the Mississippi Civil Rights Commission and the Area Development Partnership.
With a vote of approval recently by Hattiesburg City Council members, Holloway can now add one more accomplishment to that list: the newest member of the Hattiesburg Public School District Board of Trustees.
Mayor Toby Barker nominated Holloway during a recent news conference, when he announced Holloway would be taking over for outgoing board member Patricia Fluker, who is moving to the board of the Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County.
"These (school board members) carry out some of the most sacred responsibilities in our community - fostering and protecting the financial health, academic accountability and organizational success of our school district," Barker said. "Dr. Holloway is an institution in the city of Hattiesburg.
"He knows education ... he knows finances, and he also knows this community. He is a product of Hattiesburg public schools, a product of the Mobile-Bouie neighborhood, a product of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, and a product of the many people who have invested in him throughout his life."
Holloway graduated from Rowan High School in 1970 and served for 40 years as an administrator at Southern Miss, as well as 16 years as a member of Hattiesburg City Council. He was the first African-American vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Southern Miss before his retirement earlier this year.
A lifelong resident of Hattiesburg, Holloway earned four college degrees, including a doctorate in educational administration. He is a 2004 inductee of the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame and served as dean of students, assistant vice president for student affairs, counselor and instructor/assistant professor of psychology, assistant dean of students and interim dean of students.
He was the first elected African-American member of Hattiesburg City Council, serving from 1985 to 2000, and during that time served as council president and vice president.He was also a charter member of the Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation.
"Public education is the backbone and the strength of our great country," Holloway said. "When public education fails, so does the great country of America, and so does the great state of Mississippi.
"So all that I know is education, and all that I know and aspire to is high quality. I think comfort is the enemy of excellence, so we must be rambunctious in our quest for upward movement and in our quest for excellence. We must never be comfortable with mediocrity."
Barker thanked Fluker for her leadership and service on the school board over the past five years.
"She stayed the course through some very tough times, and I appreciate her extending an already long career of service as a former educator to sit on the board of trustees," he said. "I look forward to her continued involvement as she transitions to the library board."
School board members serve five-year terms.
