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MUMBLINGS October 27, 2005
Louise Baggett Hollinger worked with the Baldwin County
Department of Education for almost a century before her death on October 13.
With full admiration and agreement by thousands who knew her we are on this
date recognizing her, as "Baldwin County's First Lady of Education."
I asked one of her longtime acquaintances if the above
title was accurate and he readily applied, " No one else is close."
My first meeting was when she worked with Mr. S.M. Tharp,
Baldwin County Superintendent of Education. Five superintendents of Baldwin
were fortunate enough to have her working with them for the benefit of the
students of this great county. They were, in addition to Mr. Tharp, Mr. Candler
McGowan, Dr. Aubrey McVay, Mr. Leslie Smith and Dr. J. Larry Newton.
Her last employer and one of her great admirers was Dr.
Newton. Upon my request, I asked him to please give me more detailed
information about this lady that I admired so much. I appreciated his
assistance and here are some of his notes:
"Louise Baggett Hollinger was born in Uriah, Alabama. Her
mother died when she was approximately three weeks old from childbirth
complications, and she was raised by her grandmother. Louise attended and
graduated from J. U. Blacksher High School. She attended Athens College, in
Alabama for a period of time but had to drop out due to financial reasons.
"She was employed at Brookley Field during World War II
and afterwards she went to work for Morrison's. She was employed by the Baldwin
County Board of Education in 1946 while Mr. Tharp was Superintendent, and she
served as Secretary for the Veterans Program. This program was for GI's
returning home after the war, who wanted to return to high school to complete
their education.
"She worked her way up to become Treasurer/Comptroller of
the Baldwin County School System. She retired in 1987 after 41 years of
service, but continued on a part time basis until 1994.
"In 1995, she was appointed as a member of the Baldwin
County Board of Education to fill the unexpired term of Dr. L.E. Rockwell.
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