Fritz Hollings

Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings (January 1, 1922 – April 6, 2019) was an American politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Charleston County, South Carolina from 1949 to 1954, the 77th lieutenant governor of South Carolina from 1955 to 1959, the 106th governor of South Carolina from 1959 to 1963, and a member of the United States Senate from 1966 to 2005. He served alongside Democrat-turned-Republican U.S. Senate member 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 and the second-oldest living former American governor. He was the last Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina until 2026. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Hollings graduated from The Citadel in 1942 and joined a law practice in Charleston after attending the Joseph F. Rice 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 U.S. Senate member 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 members of the United States Senate in U.S. history. Hollings sought the Democratic nomination in the 1984 presidential election but dropped out of the race after the New Hampshire presidential primary. He declined to seek re-election in 2004 and was succeeded by Republican Jim DeMint.[edit]

Governor Henry McMaster declared a day of mourning for the former senator and governor, while colleagues remembered him as a silver-haired Democrat who helped shepherd South Carolina through desegregation. Tributes highlighted his evolution from an orthodox segregationist early in his career to a champion of civil rights and environmental protection later in life, with The New York Times noting his complex legacy. A moment of silence was observed in the South Carolina State House where he lay in state before mourners gathered for a memorial service on April 11, 2019, attended by notable figures such as then-Senator Lindsey Graham. Ernest Frederick Hollings passed away in his sleep at his home on East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 6, 2019, at the age of 97.

The cause of death was natural causes associated with his advanced age. His final days were spent in retirement following his long tenure in the U.S. Senate, which ended in 2005, and the announcement was confirmed by his family alongside subsequent obituaries published by major news outlets. Following the service, Hollings was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston near the site of his family's historic home. In the months after his passing, items belonging to the Senator were donated to the Citadel campus in Charleston, ensuring his legacy remained accessible to students and historians. The Fritz H. Hollings Scholarship Program at NOAA continued its operations honoring his advocacy for ocean policy and education.[edit]