U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, the oldest United State senator, turns 97 on Jan. 1, 2019. First elected to the Senate in 1966, he retired in 2005 and lives on Isle of Palms, S.C.
A Charleston native, Hollings served 56 years in public service as an officer during World War II, a state representative in South Carolina, lieutenant governor and governor before election to the U.S. Senate.
Happy birthday to a favorite son
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg gave happy birthday wishes to Hollings, described as one of South Carolina’s favorite sons, in this Dec. 31, 2018, post on Facebook:”
The senator, who currently is the nation’s oldest living former United State Senator, has a long legacy of accomplishments that helped South Carolina and the nation. He was a key player in crafting laws protecting our oceans, helping to feed hungry mothers and children, providing access to affordable health care to millions, promoting fair trade and revolutionizing telecommunications,” Tecklenburg wrote.
“Senator Hollings is a living example of what a life of public service can mean. We need more people like Fritz Hollings in government today. Happy birthday, Senator!”
A long distinguished career
During a career marked by myriad successes, Hollings authored and was a key player in legislation that protected the nation’s oceans and estuaries, delivered affordable health care to millions through the Community Health Center program, promoted fair trade, pushed fiscally-conservative budget measures, helped create the Women’s, Infants and Children’s (WIC) nutrtion progrm and worked to revolutionize the telecommunications industry.
- Click here to learn more about the senator’s career and his legacy. recor
In 1970, Hollings published The Case Against Hunger, a book that led to the maternal feeding program. In 2008, Hollings, a past chair of the Senate Budget Committee and Senate Commerce, Space, Science & Transportation Committee, authored Making Government Work (University of South Carolina Press, 2008).