Hollis Gail Turnham

My most enduring memories of Hollis are from SFA. We worked together on the Free Voice alternate newspaper, where our group of pinko liberal hippies frustrated Hollis to no end. Her background in journalism, as well as her devotion to the Democratic party, sometimes clashed with our smug self-righteousness. Well, we were young.

But Hollis still loved us--and tried to guide us. She helped me out big time when I was commuting to my first teaching job (1-1/2 hours each way), and my car needed a week's work. Hollis generously and immediately offered her car for the interim and rode to SFA with her sister. When Randy was stuck in Nacogdoches over Thanksgiving, Hollis insisted that he come to dinner with her family--and the family welcomed him.

She and Dorothy attended Randy's and my wedding (a small back yard affair). My mom and Dorothy really hit it off, and I was impressed that an "adult" friend came. Randy and I visited Hollis in Austin, where she was in law school, and she fed us--even though she was furiously studying for finals.

Over the years, Hollis kept in touch, chiefly with my sister Amy, who now lives in Nacogdoches. Amy's husband Dave and mine, Randy, were roommates at SFA, co-workers on the Free Voice, and good friends of Hollis. We have had dinner with Hollis over the years, both as a small group and with her family, including a graduation party for her nephew.

Hollis was an influence on our lives, and it's amazing to read how much she influenced state and national politics and policies. We have good memories of her and her kind family.

Sue Nixdorf Smith