John Monroe J. Holliday, Galivants Ferry John Monroe Johnson Holliday, of Galivants Ferry, passed away on Oct. 21, 2000, after a long illness. He was born in Galivants Ferry on Sept. 13, 1916. He was the son of the late Senator George J. Holliday and Mrs. Flora J. Holliday. He was married to Marjorie Russell Holliday and had three children, the late George J. Holliday, M. Russell Holliday and Christian M. Holliday Douglas. He also leaves his two sons-in-law, David D. Douglas and A.H. Cottingham, III (both formerly of Greenville) and three treasured grandchildren, Holliday Douglas, Russell Holliday Dougals and David D. Douglas Jr. All the family now calls Galivants Ferry home. He was predeceased by his sisters and brother, Floramay Holliday McLeod, Emma Holliday Collins, Reubie Gressette Holliday Gaskin, Joseph William Holliday and Elizabeth Holliday Allen. He was a graduate of Aynor High School and proud to be the youngest graduate of the Citadel at age 19 as part of the class of 1936. He was later commissioned as first lieutenant in 1942 in the United States Army at the outbreak of World War II. He later taught military science at the Citadel. John Monroe served in many capacities at the Citadel. He was president of the Association of Citadel Men, served on the Citadel Board of Visitors since 1948 and was Chairman Emeritus at his death. He was proud to be in attendance when the John Monroe J. Holliday Alumni Center at the Citadel opened on Sept. 15, 2000. Holliday was a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and received the highest honors bestowed by the Boy Scouts: the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope and the Distinguished Citizens award. Holliday was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 1999 by Gov. Jim Hodges. His philanthropy extended throughout the state. He established scholarships at the Citadel and Wofford and endowed different programs at Francis Marion University, Horry Georgetown Technical College, Coastal Carolina University and Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville. He was well known throughout the state for his love of the Democratic Party and the Galivants Ferry Stump Speaking, which the John Monroe and Joseph Holliday families have hosted since 1880. He was also well known as one of the largest tobacco farmers in South Carolina, and his tireless support of tobacco growers was widely recognized. He was chairman of the Agriculture Commission for Gov. Fritz Hollings. Holliday was president of Holliday Associates, LLC and was one of the longest-serving directors on the board of Conway National Bank and was one of the first organizers and members of the board of directors of The Dunes Golf and Beach Club at Myrtle Beach. He was one of the founders of Myrtle Beach National Properties Inc. He served on the board of the Galivants Ferry Baptist Church where he was an honorary deacon. He also served on the Aynor Lions Club, the Conway Chapter of Farm Bureau, the Farm Bureau State Board and the South Carolina Higher Education Commission. He was proud to have followed in his family’s tradition of being Postmaster of the Galivants Ferry Post Office. John Monroe was known for his love of sports. He played on the Citadel tennis team and won the last Ocean Forest Tennis Championship before the Ocean Forest was demolished. He also loved golf and won many local titles during his life as well as the North and South Carolina Senior Championship. He also won the National Lefty-Righty Golf championship with sports writer Des Sullivan. He was proudest of the George Holliday Junior Golf Tournament, which he founded in memory of his son. John Monroe Holliday loved his church, family, Galivants Ferry, The Citadel, politics and his friends. He will be missed by them all. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at his residence, 275 Highway 501 West, Galivants Ferry, S.C., with the Rev. Dr. Bobby Wilkes assisted by the Rev. Bobby Byrd officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion, S.C., directed by Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. Memorials may be sent to Galivants Ferry Baptist Church, c/o Mrs. Josephine Skipper, 2175 Highway 501 West, Galivants Ferry, SC 29544, or to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409.
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