Texas Green Bill Holloway passed away this week. He was the co-chair of the Travis County Green Party, and involved with both the Texas Green Party and GPUS.
I’m posting here an e-mail from Kat Swift regarding Bill Holloway, followed by a recent (Dec. 1) post he wrote at Greenchange.org.
The Green Party of Texas mourns the tragic loss of Bill Holloway. Bill was a dedicated leader who was currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Travis County Green Party in Austin, TX. He will be missed as a mentor and a friend.
Through his kind-hearted activism, Bill touched the lives of so many people. He was an active Green Party contributor at the local, state and national levels. Bill served on numerous committees in the Green Party and in other organizations as well.
Bill Holloway passed away unexpectedly last weekend at his home in Austin, Texas. Given the unexpected nature of his death, we know many will have questions regarding details. Out of respect for Bill, his family, and his lengthy legacy of community service, we hope you understand our reluctance to speculate and request that others will also be circumspect in their communication.Our heart-felt condolences go out to all of Bill’s friends and family. Bill was a very special person who will be sorely missed.
There will be a memorial service in Austin, TX, on Friday, January 16, and his funeral will be in Oklahoma City, OK, on Wednesday, January 14.
For the memorial, a book is being compiled for his parents. If you would like to contribute, please write down a story or memory of Bill, with a photo if you have one and send it to Sondra - lonestarsondra@gmail.com by January 15th. His family never met most of his friends and, we suspect, had no idea of the difference he made in so many lives. The book is being put together to let them know how many people were touched by and loved him. If the photo and the text can be pasted onto one page, that would be ideal, but whatever people can contribute would be appreciated.
Whatever your beliefs, please keep Bill and his family and vast network of friends in your thoughts, prayers, and/or rituals.
In solidarity,
kat swift
co-chair
Green Party of Texas
Bill Holloway writing at greenchange.org:
I’m gonna lay out some ideas I’ve been having.
David Cobb said long ago (and in Chicago during the ‘08 pres. nominating convention), and Noam Chomsky recently reinforced the idea on Democracy Now!, that change rarely comes from “above.” It comes from the street, from people’s movements. The abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage, labor rights, civil rights, women’s liberation, the environmental movement—these are some of the movements in this country that led to real reform. Some of these movements led to the formation of political parties that successfully drove the issues.
My opinion and concern is that the US Green Party — at least in the mind of the public (where it counts) — has not been born of such a movement. The public, at least, believes we were created by middle-class white, liberal activists: Ralph Nader’s people, individuals from socialist groups, and disgruntled Democrats. We have had a difficult time connecting to and recruiting working-class people and people of color, as we all know. I believe there is a nacent, building movement for social justice. I believe that they will have a political party, but it will, IMHO, not likely be us unless we are careful and very dedicated. Of course, we have to assess for ourselves whether this is what we want!
To become that party, I believe the Green Party needs to re-invent itself a little bit. I believe we need to become more than just a party and more than just activists. We need to become a community service organization as well, somewhat in the mold of Malik’s Common Ground Relief—taking groceries and prescriptions to the elderly at home, building/re-building houses and schools, providing relief and perhaps legal advocacy, whatever a community needs where a Green Party local is organized.
We need to serve those whose support we want. We have to serve them directly, IMHO, not just as elected officials but on the street and in the home.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Charles Wukasch, Co-chair, Travis County Green Party // Jan 10, 2009 at 9:21 pm
We will all miss Bill, my co-chair in the Travis County Green Party, but more importantly, a friend and fellow fighter for justice and the environment. Bill, adios and venceremos!
Charles Wukasch
2 Holly Hart // Jan 10, 2009 at 11:40 pm
This is extremely sad news - a great loss of a friend and activist. My heart goes out to his friends and family, and all who were privilege to work with this talented, inspiring individual.
3 Zach Hornbaker // Jan 11, 2009 at 2:27 am
I am Bill’s cousin from Oklahoma. I just wanted to say that I have had the privilege of meeting some of his friends in Austin. I was always amazed at the fire in his eyes when he would talk about his Green Party.
It was just in April of 2008 when he took my wife and I down to Barton Springs. His overwhelming knowledge of the area and the efforts to keep it as great as it is was incredible (as are the Springs). He really took pride in the special qualities that made Austin, Austin.
I know for a fact that each and every one of you made a huge difference in his life. My family and I thank YOU for that.
I will miss him terribly.
4 Evan Stair // Jan 11, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Most are probably not aware of Bill’s contribution to the passenger rail advocacy community.
Bill was the Texas Director for the Northern Flyer Alliance. Bill traveled frequently by train to visit his parents in Oklahoma. These travels no doubt served to stir an understanding that national transportation and energy policies needed dramatic change. He did more than speak about this need. He worked to see that the need became an issue in Texas and the nation.
Bill frequently served our organization by issuing Open Records Requests to the Texas Legislature. He drafted letters in attempts to support our common cause, that of a passenger train linking Fort Worth with Kansas City through Oklahoma City and Wichita.
I last saw Bill on Christmas Eve in Oklahoma City. We discussed plans for the upcoming year and the state of government in general. You never know when a visit with a friend will be your last.
I am deeply saddened by Bill’s passing. It is indeed rare to find an individual such as Bill; an intelligent and deep thinker. Bill shared a genuine passion for his causes in this apathetic era.
I offer my condolences to his family and friends. Please remember Bill in your thoughts and prayers.
Evan Stair
Vice President - Oklahoma
Northern Flyer Alliance
Norman, Oklahoma
5 Kimberly Wilder // Jan 11, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Condolences to friends and family on the loss of Bill Holloway. He was someone who I knew of from national work, not sure if I ever spoke directly with him.
The loss of Bill Holloway, and looking at photos of him to see if I might have bumped into him at national meetings, has caused me deep reflection.
There is always so much hoopla at our national meetings. Workshops, and meetings, and parties, and networking. Though, with all of that, there are often lots of people that you don’t really encounter.
Since there are only usually 100 to say 300 of us at these meetings, it might be nice for the organizers/leaders to try to make some specific structures where everyone can get introduced to the group. Or, even something like a hand-shake line, where at one or more of the big meetings, everyone gets to be face-to-face with everyone else.
I think people who are savy politicians and/or wonderful at social skills often wind up accomplishing this by introducing and mingling. But, I am not good that. And, I am probably not alone.
With the bickering we have, and different sides of philosophical debates, it might be nice to have one, somewhat forced introduction between all the people who show up for our meetings. There are a lot of people who have made me mad at national. But, I don’t think it would kill me if I had to shake their hand once at the welcome meeting.
Peace,
Kimberly Wilder
6 Anne Yoakam // Jan 11, 2009 at 11:14 pm
The last memory I have of Bill is standing in my cousin’s house in Austin eating Thai curry. He had told me sometime before he was starting a technology company, so I am amazed to read of his political leadership. Daddy once mentioned the Holloways were liberal, yet we never got into political debates (which my family usually does) affirming an often repeated observation that Bill was a genius, the smartest young man he’d ever met. Bill was a regular at Casady Chapel midnight Mass. One year he travelled over 5 hours from a business trip in Elmira, New York to visit me. I had a friend put him up at the Union Club. Now I wish I had just let him stay at my tiny apartment! We went all over the city. Childhood memories include spending the night at the Holloways when our family moved into our new house a few blocks away, the family picnic on the golf course for the launch of Mom’s hand-sewn tissue paper hot air balloon, and it’s immediate plunge into the lake, and the time we got caught running around in circles in a sand trap (a capital sin for which we walked around with rakes like oxen plowing it
back). We had in common Gene, the outdoors and grassroots political organization, environmental policy (perhaps with differing views and at different times). I could not be more shocked and saddened by this news, still can’t believe it, flew straight to Oklahoma to see them, and my family. There is nothing in his background that would predict it. I still remember one night not being able to sleep during my parents’ dinner party and Mrs. Holloway sneaked in and patted my head until I fell asleep. Mrs. Holloway also gave us Gentry’s Barbie penthouse with everything (as my anti-Barbie Mother refused, but niether Gentry nor myself are “trophy wives” so the Barbies did no harm. When my daughter was offered a barbie house I did not hesitate and will pass it along someday the way Bill’s Mother did for us. Bill could not have had a better family, a better education or a better mind and soul. A bright
light has left this world, yet shines for us in the
next. Bill Holloway, Rest In Peace.
7 Wes Benedict // Jan 11, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I’m the former Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Texas. I just posted this at another site and wanted to re-post it here:
I’m sad to hear about Bill Holloway’s passing. I first heard about this yesterday at a political meeting in Austin of people from a wide variety of political backgrounds. He was honored with a moment of silence. Many of us knew him. I didn’t know Bill especially well on a personal level, but our paths crossed frequently and we cooperated on many efforts over the past several years. Quite often when I’d be working on a Libertarian Party event on South Congress Avenue in Austin I’d run into Bill working on a Green Party effort and we’d chat for awhile. Then again, quite often we’d be working on the same City of Austin effort. He was especially nice and considerate and I know many in Austin, Texas will miss him greatly.
8 John Blagg // Jan 12, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I first met Bill through his cousin, my good friend, Zach Hornbaker. My first impression was this was a guy who’s brain was the size of Texas and would make an impact in this world. This is exactly what happened. I am privileged to have known Bill and had the opportunity to get to know his family. A man couldn’t come from finer stock. Bill you have left a void in many lives. Rest in peace.
9 Doug Reber // Jan 12, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Bill and I met for the first time in 2006. I had been out of the country for two and a half years and wanted to get involved in the Green Party again. We co-coordinated the ballot access drive in Austin that year. Then, at the 2006 Green Party of Texas (GPTX) state convention he and Michael Grant nominated me for state co-chair.
While co-chair, I witnessed Bill’s passion for bringing about positive change at the local, state, and national levels. He taught lobbyist training for party members and citizens. He wanted so badly for the Green Party of Texas to obtain its rightful place on the voting ballot in Texas. To encourage candidates, he scheduled a campaign school and flew in the Green elected to the highest level in the country, John Eder. He worked on many campaigns and assisted many others.
He almost single handedly coordinated the 2006 state convention and he hosted the 2008 county, and precinct conventions. Together we held peace and impeachment rallies, fundraisers and lobbing sessions. Bill was Travis County co-chair twice, secretary, and IT coordinator. He also served on numerous state committees and was both a state delegate and national delegate.
With what money he had, he gave generously to bringing about the change he longed for. He fought intensely for government accountability, single payer universal health care, worker’s rights, and low-income housing.
He was a very talented physicist and computer programmer. He simultaneously held so many offices and worked on so many issues, it was often stunning to people to find out that this work really was from just one individual. I remember asking him “How do we get more Bills”.
I will always remember Bill as a tireless fighter.
We love you.
I wish you peace my good friend.
Dr. Douglas Reber
Friend and colleague of Bill
10 IKS // Jan 14, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I was a delegate from PA in Chicago and recall meeting Bill there. (Delegates might also recall that he was the one to announce Texas’ delegates votes onstage.) Even via a couple of brief encounters, he struck me as a highly dedicated Green and a very stand-up individual in general.
I hope there are those who can continue his work with the same level of passion that he clearly brought to it.
11 Barb // Apr 24, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I just today read of Bill’s death, in Bucknell Magazine. Bill and I were friends at Bucknell, both living in the International House, which not only housed a number of international students but was something of a refuge for those of us who didn’t fit the typical Bucknell social mold, which was quite a conservative place in those days. My most vivid memory is an intense evening of one-on-one soccer. It’s a funny thing to remember, really, but it was just such a fun release. As I recall, Bill kept to himself a lot, but he was always so kind. He talked about naming a Colorado peak after Bucknell. If I can find it, I’d like to climb it someday. We didn’t keep in touch after graduation, but from time to time, I’ve wondered where he ended up and thought about looking him up. Now it’s too late. From reading all the testimony about his life in Austin, I’m thrilled to read about all he did, and so sad that he’s gone.
12 Gregg Jocoy // Apr 26, 2009 at 9:19 am
Thank you for your remembrances Barb. I never got to meet Bill, so reading what you wrote means a lot to me.
13 Laura Malkin-Stuart // May 13, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Bill Holloway was a classmate of mine at Casady School. I moved from Madrid to Oklahoma City in 1983, not an easy thing to do, and I will always remember how kind and considerate Bill was. I lost touch after high school, but have often thought about his kindness. I am very saddened to hear about his death.
My prayers and thoughts are with his family.
Laura
14 Lynn Eustis // Aug 25, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I’m so sad to hear about Bill’s death. We were classmates at Bucknell University. It’s to sad to hear about this, and I wish I’d been in touch with him at the time of his passing, and I wish I could have said something encouraging to him. Bill, I hope you found what you were looking for.
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