The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1951-04-19

N1dlO1 W. Y. 11OA1OAAAo
son, is making formal announce
ment today of his candidacy for
State Auditor, subject to the
August primaries.
Son of a pioneer Baptist preach
er Of South Mississippi, Rev. w.
B. Holcomb, he has three brothers
in leading positions with Baptists
today: DR.. T. Luther Holcomb,
executive secretary of the Sun
day School board of the Southern
Baptist convention, Nashville;
Rev. Harmon r. Holcomb, pastor
of the First Baptist Church at
Tupelo; and Rev. Rowe c. Hol-
comb, pastor First Baptist Church,
Hazlehurst.
Mr.. Holcomb, himself an active
and influential layman for many
years, is presently promotion man.
lager of Southern Business Ser
vice, a Jackson organization spe-
cializing in commercial account
ing.
A native of Purvis, educated at
schools in Poplarville, Virgins,
Wesson and Quitman, William
Edgar Holcomb was graduated
with special distinction at Missis-
sippi College in 1913. He went
into religious education, first as
assistant to Sunday School Secre-
tary J. Ed Byrd, and then as as
sistant to President j. L. john
son at Mississippi Woman's Col
lege. He was later president of
this college from 1932-40.
He was at Camp Shelby and
Jackson in 1918 in YMCA and
| United War Work, and after the
war entered the lumber business
at Tupelo. While heading his
own firm there, he wholesaled
over 900 carloads of yellow pine
for each of five consecutive
years.
During his years at Tupelo,
! Mr.. Holcomb was or the board OF
| trustees of the public schools;
| president and district governor of
Rotary; member and president OF
| the board of trustees of Blue
| Mountain College; two years
president Of the Mississippi Bap-
| fist convention; a deacon and
| Mems Bible Glass teacher in the
First Baptist Church.
In Jackson now he teaches the
| Moffitt Bible class in the First
| Baptist Church and is immedi-
| ate past chairman of the board OF
| deacons.
Mr.. Holcomb was commissioned
a Major in the State Guard by
Governor Paul B. Johnson in 1910,
assigned to duty with State Selec-
tive Service headquarters and
later as administrative assistant
to Governor johnson. He served
as director of OPA for the state,
following which he liquidated the
| Mississippi War Assets admins
tration office. In 1949-50 he led
The Christian Overseas Program
as state director, obtaining con-
tributions from churches OF all
, denominations in more than OF
counties in the state for this pro-
}gram. Outstanding among these
gifts were large quantities OF cane
syrup and milk for hungry pa-
bies. He has since been IN the
accounting. firm in Jackson.
Major Holcomb was married
in 1915 to Miss Sunshine Kirk
. land Of Quitman (his creates
distinction, according to Mr.. Hol'
comb), and the family now IN
cludes four children and foul
grandchildren. Their daughter:
are Abby, Jean and Betty 10, ane
the son is Ed, Junior.
Major Holcomb was AWARDED
the Doctor of Laws degree ..
Carson-Newman college In 1885,
for Outstanding service to tn
| youth of the South" His friend
feel that his business training an'
! especially his character and inte
: gritty make him an attractive can
! didate for State Auditor OF PUP
lie Accounts.