Background
Holmes, George Milton was born on June 20, 1929 in Mt Airy, North Carolina, United States. Son of John William and Thelma Elizabeth Dobie Holmes.
Holmes, George Milton was born on June 20, 1929 in Mt Airy, North Carolina, United States. Son of John William and Thelma Elizabeth Dobie Holmes.
A retiree from Hamptonville, North Carolina, Holmes began serving his sixteenth term in January 2007. He was one of the longest serving North Carolina legislators. He died on December 31, 2009 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Holmes, a native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, was a 1954 graduate of Appalachian State University.
At Appalachian, he received a football scholarship. He taught at West Yadkin High School from 1954–1956, coaching football, baseball and basketball.
In 1956, he joined West. North. Ireland Insurance Company in Yadkinville, North Carolina. He later became president and co-owner.
Holmes was first elected to state office in 1974 and has only been defeated once, in the post-Watergate backlash against Republicans in 1976.
When Republicans took over the state House in 1995, Holmes gained considerable power as the co-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1995-1998. In 2003, Holmes, the senior Republican, was a candidate for speaker of the state House. Holmes was a compromise candidate after five Republicans refused to support Republican
Leo Daughtry.
Republican Republican The George M. Holmes Convocation Center, an 8,325 seat arena in Boone, North Carolina, is named for Holmes, who was instrumental in bringing in state funds for the project Holmes was popular in his district, which is overwhelmingly Republican.
He ran unopposed in the 2006 and 2004 elections, and had a Libertarian challenger in 2002. Campaign finance questions
In December 2006, Holmes was criticized after it was reported he wrote three checks to himself totaling more than $79,000 from his campaign finance accountant
The last payment from the account was four days before a new law limiting personal use of campaign money took effect.
"Through 32 years of serving in the General Assembly, I accumulated more than I had to spend for my campaign," Holmes told the Winston-Salem Journal. "I see nothing wrong with a person who has accumulated excess funds through the years using that money because it was given with no strings attached."
Recent news
He also is vice-chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. Holmes was hospitalized in March 2007 for pneumonia and to receive some treatment for his heart.
He was back at his desk by March 26, 2007.
In 2008, Holmes cited his health when he declined to run for a 17th term.
He was the minority whip from 1981–1982 and minority party joint caucus leader from 1983-1984.
Holmes defended the transfer, saying what he did was within the law.
In the 2007-2008 session of the legislature, Holmes was a member of these committees: Appropriations, Aging, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Financial Institutions, Judiciary, Public Utilities, and University Board of Governors Nominating.
Married Barbara Ann Ireland, 1956. 1 child Jennifer Leigh.