Karl M Holloway

“Life has only two rules: 1. Never quit 2. Always remember #1” ~Duke Ellington

Karl Maxwell Holloway epitomized a life guided by profound principles. Born on the 10th of January, 1940, he emerged as the second beacon of light in a family of four. His proud parents, John and Agnes Holloway, hailed from vibrant Cleveland, Ohio. Imbued with a profound reverence for knowledge at an early age, Karl’s parents nurtured within him an enduring love for history, art, and the lyrical beauty of poetry. With unwavering devotion, they were members of the esteemed Cory United Methodist Church, a bastion of heritage and spirituality in the heart of Cleveland. During his formative years, Karl, along with his elder brother Rick, found solace and purpose as members of the revered Boy Scouts Organization. Their father, John Sr., graced the role of Scoutmaster, fostering within them a sense of camaraderie, adventure, and a deep appreciation for the boundless wonders of nature. Karl’s two cherished sisters, Patricia and Oluremi Ann, held fond memories of him, recounting tales of a loving and nurturing older brother, whose affection knew no bounds. Upon graduating from high school, Karl enrolled briefly at Kent State University; however, he decided to pause his education and instead followed his older brother’s lead and enlisted in the U.S. Military at the age of 21. Karl was deployed at the U.S. Army installation in Fort Belvoir, Virginia where he served for three years. Now armed with greater discipline and focus, he decided to enroll at Bowling Green State University.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” ~Malcolm X

Upon graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1968, Karl worked in the Upward Bound Program at Central State University for a year. Thereafter, he attended the University of Cincinnati and received a Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree, subsequently embarking on an impactful career of teaching countless students in greater Cincinnati. First teaching at Raymond Walters College in Blue Ash, Karl would then begin his career with the Cincinnati Public School System. He taught at Hughes High School for seven years and in September 1978, began teaching at Western Hills High School. There Mr. Holloway cemented an indelible legacy that reverberates to this very day. In his own words, Mr. Holloway articulated, “You have to care about students, all students, gifted and non-gifted of all races. Helping young people sort things out and giving some direction to their lives is something extra I do.” In addition to being the passionate teacher he was, Mr. Holloway served as a de facto guidance counselor as he passionately advocated for his students to pursue higher education. He was especially fervent in advocating for his black students to attend Historically Black Colleges & Universities. Many of them attested that because of his impassioned advocacy, they would attend and graduate from various HBCU’s. Mr. Holloway’s former students and colleagues will substantiate that he was the embodiment of what a teacher should be: an educator, mentor, friend and confidant. Mr. Holloway retired from a stellar 28-year career at Western Hills High School. In all, he would amass a prolific career of over 35 years of teaching in the Cincinnati area.

In a Sentimental Mood

During the early 70’s in Cincinnati, Karl met the woman who would change his life forever, Victoria Wright, whom he wed on March 30, 1974. From this beautiful union came two lovely children, Kwame Achebe Holloway and Shamia Essie Kali Holloway. Vicky or Queen Victoria, as she was affectionately known, was a guiding light in Karl’s life. As a family, they exuded “Black Excellence” as captured in an

Ebony Magazine feature profiling their family and their love of black art. Karl and Vicky were proud parishioners of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and later New Vision United Methodist Church, when the former would merge with Bond Hill St. Mark United Methodist. Additionally, Karl and Vicky were ardent community servants in the greater Cincinnati region. As Vice President of the NAACP, Karl produced and hosted a NAACP chapter television show on local NBC affiliate WLWT. Through their partnership, Karl and Vicky were avid and loving supporters of each other until her passing on March 11, 2006.

His Favorite Things

Jazz great, Art Blakey once opined, “It takes an intelligent ear to listen to jazz.” Given Karl Holloway’s keen intellect, it should come to no one’s surprise that he was a jazz enthusiast. His personal favorites included jazz greats John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Pharoah Sanders and many others. Karl was a true jazz aficionado who relished regaling those eager to learn and listen to “America’s Classical Music.” Karl was also an artistic maestro who crafted vibrant and colorful oil paintings. Studying under acclaimed Cincinnati artist, Gilbert Young, Karl utilized vivid, abstract colors in his compositions of African American realism. And then there was his love for books. A true bibliophile with an insatiable curiosity and voracious appetite for knowledge, one would be hard pressed to catch Karl without a book. Karl’s love of books was why he spent every birthday until now at Busboys and Poets. Even in retirement, Karl remained the consummate teacher, giving his time and energy helping local inmates acquire their GED’s. Additionally, he helped disenfranchised citizens with criminal pasts regain their voting rights.

“The best I can do is stay happy” ~ Louis Armstrong

Years following Vicky’s passing, Karl found new love and companionship in Angela E. Carey. They would quickly become the best of friends, uplifting each other at pivotal times in both of their lives. Karl eventually relocated to Warwick, Pennsylvania and on June 1, 2010, Karl and Angela entered into holy matrimony. Karl and Angela were parishioners of the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Angela would remain by Karl’s side until his last earthly breath. Karl had many joys, but his grandchildren were some of his happiest. They were truly his heartbeats whom he loved to dote upon while always providing his witty humor coupled with his sagacious wisdom befitting of his elder statesmanship. In addition to being the proud father of Kwame and Shamia, Karl was also a wonderful stepfather to Anthony Jr. and Pier. As well, Karl devoted himself unselfishly to countless students and young people who grew up without a fatherly presence.

He demonstrated what a real father, a real husband, and what a real man should be. He was an exemplary model of manhood as he was one of our best and brightest. “A gallant pillar of our community; in honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves.” (Ossie Davis) He is preceded in death by his brother John F. Holloway Jr., his father and mother, John and Agnes Holloway and his previous wife, Victoria W. Holloway. He leaves loving and cherished memories in the hearts of his beloved and devoted wife, Angela E. Holloway, his son and daughter, Kwame and Shamia Holloway, stepchildren, Anthony Carey Jr. and Pier Carey, his loving sisters, Patricia Fox and Oluremi Ann Oliver, along with his grandchildren, Miles, Malika, Amoni, Khalfani, Maxwell, Sam, Kayden, Ava Marie, Kaci Marie and a whole host of nieces and nephews. He will be remembered by a cherished community of family, friends, and students, all whom he profoundly influenced.

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