Otis Halbert Holmes (February 22, 1902 – July 27, 1977) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

state, serving a total of eight consecutive terms, from 1943 to 1959. He did not stand for re-election in 1958, retiring to his ranch. Starting his career as a teacher and academic, Holmes also became a livestock rancher in Eastern Washington. He joined the Republican Party and entered politics. He was a grandson of US Representative Dudley C. Haskell (R-KS).

Early life and education

Born in

Cresco, Iowa Cresco is a city in Howard County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,888 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 3,905 at the 2000 United States Census, 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County, Iowa, Howard Co ...

, Holmes moved in 1915 with his parents and family to

Walla Walla, Washington Walla Walla ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. It had a population of 34,060 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, estimated to have decreased to 33,339 as of 2023. The combined populat ...

, where he attended the public schools. He graduated from

Whitman College Whitman College is a private liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington. The school offers 53 majors and 33 minors in the liberal arts and sciences, and it has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. Founded as a seminary by a territorial l ...

, also in Walla Walla, in 1923. He attended graduate school at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, New York City, where he earned his degree in 1927.

Career

Holmes returned to Washington, where he first taught economics at

Ellensburg High School Ellensburg High School is a secondary school in Ellensburg, Washington, United States, operated by the Ellensburg School District. Academics Qualified 11th and 12th grade students may take classes at Central Washington University, and earn bot ...

in 1924. He taught in 1925 at what became Central Washington College of Education at Ellensburg. It was first established as a normal school for the training of elementary school teachers. After completing his graduate degree, Holmes taught at Columbia University in 1928 and 1929. He returned to the Pacific Northwest, teaching at Central Washington College of Education from 1930 to 1942. From 1934 to 1942 Holmes was also a livestock rancher and operator. Holmes was elected in 1942 as a Republican to the Seventy-eighth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1943 - January 3, 1959). Holmes voted in favor of the

Civil Rights Act of 1957 The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first federal civil rights law passed by the United States Congress since the Civil Rights Act of 1875. The bill was passed by the 85th United States Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. E ...

. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1958 to the Eighty-sixth Congress. Holmes died in

Yakima, Washington Yakima ( or ) is a city in and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the state's 11th most populous city. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728. The ...

, July 27, 1977, and was buried in Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Hal 1902 births 1977 deaths Politicians from Walla Walla, Washington Columbia University alumni Whitman College alumni Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Washington (state) People from Cresco, Iowa 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives