Senator Jimmy Holley’s (R-Elba) honorable and storied career in the Alabama Legislature will come to a close next year.

Holley, who has served his state with distinction for nearly 48 years, announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from serving his state senate district in Southeast Alabama.

A small businessman and cattle farmer, Holley is known as a tireless advocate for the people of his district. He has fought for and brought countless infrastructure improvements to his district essential to Alabama’s support of nearby Fort Rucker. Improving quality of life for rural communities across the Wiregrass remained among Holley’s highest priorities throughout his time in office. School funding and expanding access to high-speed internet will be part of his legacy. His contributions to workforce development will have lasting impact on future generations, including his work to establish the Alabama Aviation College in Ozark.

Inside the statehouse, Holley is revered for his wisdom and knowledge of the legislative process. While unafraid to dig in on an issue on behalf of his constituents, he also often serves as voice of reason during heated debates and stalemates in the upper chamber. And members never know when Holley’s sharp but frequently hidden wit would make any appearance, including when he remarks to well-established senators that they are “a young man with a lot of potential.”

Holley’s announcement predictably caused other state leaders to reflect on his years of exemplary service.

“Senator Jimmy Holley is an institution in the Alabama Senate, and our body will not be the same without him. 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 Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) in a statement from his office. “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.”

Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) offered his praise for Holley, as well.

“I know I speak for all members of the Senate Republican Caucus when I say that Senator Jimmy Holley will be sincerely missed in this body,” he stated. “Senator 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.”

Holley’s Senate District 31 includes Coffee, Pike, Dale and Covington Counties. His current term ends on November 7, 2022.

Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia