Holley’s legacy is ‘service’

“Service to others” and “a great team player” are among the ways the longtime public servant from Elba is described by others after announcing that he will not seek re-election in 2022.

State Sen. Jimmy Holley announced June 23 that he will retire after nearly five decades of service to the state.

Holley represents Alabama’s 31st district which includes Coffee, Pike, Dale, and Covington counties. His current term ends on Nov. 7, 2022. Holley has represented the 31st District since 1998. Previously he was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 1974 through 1994. Holley was a Democrat until Jan. 10, 2007 when he announced a party change.

He has served on the Children Youth and Human Services, Finance and Taxation General Fund, Governmental Affairs, Rules and Veterans and Military Affairs committees.

District 93 State Rep. Steve Clouse, whose state house district partially includes part of Holley’s state senate district, has served with the long term senator for 23 years. “We have had a great relationship working together, serving together,” Clouse said. “I have great respect and appreciation for him.”

District 91 State Rep. Rhett Marques agreed. “Sen. Holley has served with integrity and he will be greatly missed in the Senate,” Marques said. “His knowledge and wisdom will be hard to replace.”

Marques said he has great respect for Holley. “He’s always been committed to his district and constituents.

“It has been my honor and pleasure to work beside him over the last three years,” he said. He’s been a great mentor and a better friend. Although he is choosing to leave the Senate, his legacy in this district and across the state of Alabama will likely outlive us all.”

“Of course, I am happy for Jimmy. Being the family man that I know he is, Jimmy will cherish the time with his family and will make the most of his retirement,” said Enterprise Mayor William Cooper. “But I am also sad to see such a great statesman leave our state legislature.

“I’ve known Jimmy for a long time. I can remember helping him put out campaign signs and supporting him in the early years when he was running for the state House of Representatives,” Cooper recalled. “He served our county well as a state representative and went on to be quite the statesman in the Alabama Senate for many years.

“He has done a lot for Enterprise. All we had to do was pick up the phone and we could count on him to support us where he could,” Cooper added. “We are grateful for his support and his leadership through the years. He will definitely be missed, but I wish him well in this next phase of his life.”

“Sen. Jimmy Holley is an institution in the Alabama Senate and our body will not be the same without him,” said Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed said in a statement issued following Holley’s announcement.

Reed and Majority Leader Clay Scofield issued statements recognizing Holley’s significant impact in the state legislature following the June 23 announcement.

“I appreciate the decades of service he has given to his district and to our state in his long tenure in the Senate and I am grateful for the wisdom and experience he has shared with our membership,” said Reed. “I have enjoyed learning from and working with him over the years and I am thankful for his extensive service to the state of Alabama.”

“I know I speak for all members of the Senate Republican Caucus when I say that Sen. Jimmy Holley will be sincerely missed in this body,” Scofield said. “Sen. Holley’s dedication to his district and to our state is exemplified in his many years of service and his work to make Alabama a better place has proven him to be a true public servant and a great statesman. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him not only as a colleague, but also as a friend. He has been an influential mentor to me over the years, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.”