Jordan D. Holmes
General Information
- J. D. Holmes
- Male
- Black/African American
- January 24, 1914
- Muskogee, Muskogee, OK, OK, USA
- November 27, 1993
- Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ, USA
Legislative Resolution
View Legislative Resolution File for Jordan D. HolmesBiographical Information
The following is from the Legislative death resolution:
The Honorable Jordan D. Holmes passed away at the age of seventy-nine on November 27, 1993 in the City of Phoenix.
Jordan D. Holmes was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on January 24, 1914, the youngest of nine children. He moved to Arizona in 1940 and became an employee of the City of Phoenix. A self-made business man, he was the owner of the successful J.D. Holmes Construction Company until 1964.
Jordan D. Holmes was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives to serve in the Twenty-fifth Legislature beginning in 1961 and also served in the Twenty-sixth Legislature ending in 1965. Representative Holmes served with distinction on the Committees on Administration, Highways and Bridges, Livestock and Public Lands, Municipalities, Public Health, Public Institutions, Fish and Game and Tourism and Industry Development.
The first bill sponsored by Representative Holmes, House Bill 1 in the 1961 Session, proposed prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin in public places. While unsuccessful, Representative Holmes' bill was one of the early legislative efforts to promote civil rights in the State of Arizona.
Representative Holmes also sponsored bills to strengthen election laws and to promote education, public safety and consumer protection.
Jordan D. Holmes was active in his church and community. He was ordained as a deacon in the First Institutional Baptist Church and was active in the church until his death. He was also a distinguished member of the William H. Patterson Lodge, Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the World.
Employment
| Occupation | Title | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate/Land/Insurance | insurance salesman | |
| Transportation/Lodging | service station owner | |
| Transportation/Lodging | bus driver, City of Phoenix | |
| Labor/Trades/Construction | owner, J.D. Holmes Construction Company | 1957 - 1964 |
Arizona Legislative Service
| Session | Chamber | Party | District | City | County | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Legislature, 1st Regular | House | Democrat | Maricopa-09 - (1931-66 House) | Phoenix | Maricopa | ||
| 25th Legislature, 2nd Regular | House | Democrat | Maricopa-09 - (1931-66 House) | Phoenix | Maricopa | ||
| 26th Legislature, 1st Regular | House | Democrat | Maricopa-10 - (1931-66 House) | Phoenix | Maricopa | ||
| 26th Legislature, 2nd Regular | House | Democrat | Maricopa-10 - (1931-66 House) | Phoenix | Maricopa |