TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
The Honorable Alvin A. Holmes 1939–2020 Alabama State Representative
By Dr. Samuel Odom and John J. Ivery, Sr.
T he Montgomery (AL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi mourns the loss of Brother Alvin Holmes. He entered the Chapter Invisible on Saturday, Novem- ber 21, 2020. Brother Holmes was an active member in the Montgomery (AL) Alumni Chapter; he will be tremen- dously missed, and he was indeed ‘true’ Kappa man. Holmes was a Fall 1960 Initiate of the Alabama State University Chapter, the Beta Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi. Alvin A. Holmes was born on October 26, 1939, to the late John H. Holmes and Willie Ann Holmes. Holmes graduated from the Alabama State University (ASU) in 1962 and was treasurer of the student body. After graduation, he taught history in Covington, GA. The following year he was called to serve his country for two years with the United State Army. After an honorable discharge in 1966, he returned to ASU as assistant registrar for several years and later employed as
an associate history professor until he retired. Holmes continued his educa- tion at ASU earning M. Ed., and E.S. ASU also presented Holmes with an honorary doctorate degree. He fur- thered his studies at Jones Law School, Atlanta University, and the University of Alabama. Holmes was a member of Ala- bama Education Association, National Education Association, and N.A.A.C.P. Holmes also was the broker for Holmes Realty Company. As he entered the political arena, Holmes worked closely with Rufus Lewis regarding voter registration en- couraging citizens to become registered voters. He attended the 1968 National Democratic Convention in Chicago, IL and thereafter served as a delegate to several Democratic Conventions repre- senting the state of Alabama. Holmes also served on the state Democratic Executive Committee until his passing. Citizens in his district elected Holmes to the Alabama State Legisla- ture in 1974, and served for 44 years,
the longest term served by any member of the Alabama House of Representa- tive. During his tenure, Holmes served on a special committee and he was one of the representatives with the honor of meeting the 39th President James E. “Jimmy” Carter at the White House to appoint African-American federal judges in the South. He is also responsible for securing part of Interstate (I-85) 85 Expressway named after Dr. Martin Luther King and he oversaw annual cel- ebrations recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday; led the effort to get the Confederate Flag removed from the top of the State Capitol; he worked with Governor Fob James to appoint Oscar Adams as the Alabama Supreme Court Justice and to appoint Troy Massey to the Board of Trustees at Alabama A&M University in 1980. Holmes served on the House Ways and Means as well as the Black Caucus committee. He stat- ed, “when I arrived, the only blacks in the House of Representatives employed were janitors and maids,” Holmes said in
64 | WINTER 2020-SPRING 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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