BILOXI — The people of South Mississippi, particularly Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway, left an impression on former President George W. Bush, who called him "All the Way Holloway" in his new book.
On page 322 of "Decision Points," Bush talks about his first visit to Biloxi after Hurricane Katrina.
"I had flown over the area two days earlier, but nothing prepared me for the destruction I witnessed on the ground. I walked through a wasteland.
There were uprooted trees and debris strewn everywhere. Virtually no structures were standing."
"One of the most impressive people I met was Mayor A.J. Holloway of Biloxi. 'All the Way Holloway' had been a running back for the 1960 National Champion Ole Miss football team. While Katrina destroyed more than 6,000 homes and businesses in Biloxi, there wasn’t an ounce of self-pity in the mayor. He resolved to rebuild the city better than before."
Holloway was introduced at Wednesday's Biloxi Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday as the only mayor in South Mississippi named in the book.
Holloway said he was very honored by Bush's words. "I liked President Bush. We had some good visits together."
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