Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Charleston County
In office 1949–1954
Personal details
Born
Ernest Frederick Hollings
(1922-01-01)January 1, 1922 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Died
April 6, 2019(2019-04-06) (aged 97) Isle of Palms, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party
Democratic
Spouses
Martha Salley
(m. 1946; div. 1971)
Rita Liddy
(m. 1971; died 2012)
Children
4
Education
The Citadel (BS)
University of South Carolina, Columbia (LLB)
Awards
Bronze Star European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Signature
Military service
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Army
Years of service
1942–1945
Rank
Captain[1]
Battles/wars
World War II
Fritz Hollings's voice
Hollings speaks in support of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 Recorded November 7, 1991
Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings (January 1, 1922 – April 6, 2019) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005. A conservative Democrat, he was also the 106th governor of South Carolina, the 77th lieutenant governor of South Carolina, and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He served alongside Democrat-turned-Republican Senator Strom Thurmond for 36 years, making them the longest-serving duo in U.S. Senate history. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former U.S. senator.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Hollings graduated from The Citadel in 1942 and joined a law practice in Charleston after attending the University of South Carolina School of Law. During World War II, he served as an artillery officer in campaigns in North Africa and Europe. After the war, Hollings successively won election to the South Carolina House of Representatives, as lieutenant governor, and as governor. He sought election to the Senate in 1962 but was defeated by incumbent Olin D. Johnston.
Johnston died in 1965, and the following year Hollings won a special election to serve the remainder of Johnston's term. Hollings remained popular and continually won re-election, becoming one of the longest-serving Senators in U.S. history. Hollings sought the Democratic nomination in the 1984 presidential election but dropped out of the race after the New Hampshire primary. He declined to seek re-election in 2004 and was succeeded by Republican Jim DeMint. As of 2024, he is the last Democrat to serve in the US Senate from South Carolina.
^McFadden, Robert D. (April 6, 2019). "Ernest Hollings, 97, a South Carolina Senator Who Evolved, is Dead". The New York Times.
Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings (January 1, 1922 – April 6, 2019) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from South Carolina...
Representative FritzHollings (D), incumbent U.S. Senator Robert Clarkson (American) Mark Johnson (Libertarian) The race between Hollings and Hartnett was...
from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator FritzHollings easily defeated Republican challenger Henry McMaster to win his fifth...
legislation that created the 9/11 Commission, while he and Democratic senator FritzHollings co-sponsored the Aviation and Transportation Security Act that federalized...
Democratic resources were primarily poured into the special election to help FritzHollings and in the gubernatorial contest for Robert Evander McNair. Furthermore...
election in South Carolina was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Senator FritzHollings won reelection to his seventh (his sixth full) term. As of 2024[update]...
a close election loss to FritzHollings in 1966, the Republicans felt that Parker might have a chance at defeating Hollings by riding Nixon's coattails...
held on November 2, 2004. Longtime incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator FritzHollings retired, and Republican U.S. Representative Jim DeMint won the open...
Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator FritzHollings easily defeated Republican challenger Marshall Mays to win his fourth...
four individual Senate campaigns, including those of Obama in 2004 and FritzHollings in 1998. Gibbs was also the press secretary of Representative Bob Etheridge...
in history (Byrd, Inouye, Thurmond, Kennedy, Hayden, Stennis, Stevens, Hollings, Russell Jr., and Long) until January 7, 2013, when Patrick Leahy surpassed...
U.S. Senate in South Carolina in 1986, losing to incumbent Democrat FritzHollings. He was then defeated for lieutenant governor of South Carolina by Democrat...
Programming Act. The CBDTPA was proposed by South Carolina senator FritzHollings (D-SC). Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary...
post so that he could be appointed Senator. However, former Governor FritzHollings won the Democratic primary election and went on to beat Republican state...
Cambria, Clarion, Erie and Mercer counties. Incumbent Democratic senator FritzHollings easily defeated Republican challenger Marshall Mays to win his fourth...
Democratic Senator FritzHollings easily defeated Republican challenger Gwen Bush to win his third (his second full) term. Both FritzHollings and Gwen Bush...
a close election loss to FritzHollings in 1966, the Republicans felt that Parker might have a chance at defeating Hollings by riding Nixon's coattails...
most recent Congress to have a Democratic senator from South Carolina, FritzHollings, who retired at the end of the Congress. Both chambers had a Republican...
between Hollings and Bob Inglis, U.S. Representative gave the voters a choice of two very different visions of and for South Carolina. Hollings was from...
living former U.S. Senator on April 6, 2019, following the death of FritzHollings. Burdick was a devout Christian Scientist. Burdick's first husband was...
Ravenel ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, seeking the seat left open when FritzHollings retired. He came in third in the Republican primary election. After...
Party, managed McGovern's campaign. McGovern spent $50,000 in Iowa. FritzHollings and Jesse Jackson did not campaign in Iowa. Four candidates attended...
Texas to receive more than three million votes. In October 1985, Gramm, FritzHollings, and Warren Rudman sponsored an amendment to establish a budget deficits...
election by nearly 13% of the vote. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator FritzHollings easily defeated Republican U.S. Attorney and future Governor Henry McMaster...
Global Information
United States
United States Army