Paul Hollis

Paul Hollis
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 104th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2012
Preceded by Nita Hutter
Personal details
Born Paul Bryan Hollis
September 1, 1972
Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Ashley Tastet
Children Bree
Zachary
Alma mater Louisiana State University,
Baton Rouge
Religion United Methodism[1]
Website Campaign website

Paul Bryan Hollis (born September 1, 1972) is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the revised 104th District in St. Tammany Parish in southeastern Louisiana.

A son of the late State Senator Ken Hollis, Paul Hollis defeated fellow Republican Christopher Trahan, 3,905 votes (56 percent) to 3,096 (44 percent) in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011.[2]

Hollis was an announced candidate for the United States Senate seat held by the Democrat Mary Landrieu in the primary scheduled for November 4, 2014, but in July, he withdrew from the race. Still in the running to oppose Landrieu are his fellow Republicans Bill Cassidy, a member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th congressional district, and Rob Manness, a retired military officer from Madisonville, who carries backing of elements of the Tea Party movement.[3][4]After leaving the race, Hollis endorsed Cassidy for the Senate and later filed suit in state district court in Baton Rouge against Landrieu, having challenged her claim to a New Orleans residency. Hollins claims that Landrieu is a "full-time permanent inhabitant of the District of Columbia. ... By all measurable and legal standards, her actual domicile is her 2.5 million dollar residence on Capitol Hill, the only home she owns."[5]


Background

Paul Hollis was born in Metairie in Jefferson Parish, the third son of Judy and Ken Hollis. He graduated in 1990 from Grace King High School in Metairie, at which he was the student body president.

Hollis held his first job – for a lawn care service – at the age of thirteen and worked through high school as a restaurant busboy. After studying martial arts for many years, he attained his black belt in karate and began teaching at Elmwood Fitness Center before his senior year.

At Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Hollis opened his first small business, a karate school. He received a degree in political science from LSU in 1994.

Paul met Ashley Tastet in 1996, and they married a few years later. In 2003, the couple had their daughter, Bree. In 2006, the Hollises settled near Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish. In 2013, Paul and Ashley had their second child, son Zachary.


Business

Hollis began collecting coins in 1978, at the age of six, when he received a Peace dollar from a grandmother.[6]He still has the keepsake coin.

Hollis was employed by as the youngest salesperson at Blanchard and Company of New Orleans, one of the nation's largest rare coin and precious metal firms. He worked there until 2001, when he attained the position of "numismatist" or coin expert.

In 2003, Hollis started his own firm, Paul Hollis Rare Coins, supplying collectible coins to television home shopping networks located in Tennessee and Minnesota. Paul Hollis Rare Coins now specializes in ancient coins that circulated during the earthly lifetime of Jesus Christ.

Hollis is one of the few numismatists to visit and undertake an in-depth of study of each of the United States Mints. He has achieved status of expert in treasure coins, often being interviewed by national and international media outlets.

In the winter of 2004, Hollis joined the Odyssey Marine Exploration to salvage coins from the SS Republic (1853).[7]

In 2009, Hollis gave 1,000,000 Lincoln cents.[8] He also gave 1,050 Adams dollars to students at the middle school he attended, John Quincy Adams Middle School.[9]

In 2008, Hollis notably arranged for and escorted the 1844-0 Proof $10 Eagle, worth $2.5 million, to be on display at the Old U.S. Mint of the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge.[10] This allowed twenty thousand persons to see the coin where it was minted,

Legislative career

Hollis was elected to the Louisiana House in November 2011. His District 104 was newly redrawn as a result of the legislative redistricting plan, Act 1 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2011, signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal on April 14, 2011.[11] The district covers parts of the St. Tammany Parish communities of Mandeville, Abita Springs, Covington, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.[12]

During his first year in office, Hollis was part of the Louisiana Bicentennial Task Force and assisted with an exhibit at the Old State Capitol and the writing and production of the "History of Banking and Finance in Louisiana" in cooperation with the Secretary of State's office.

Hollis serves on the Commerce, Education, and Retirement committees.[1]

Writing career

Hollis is the author of the book American Numismatist, written for the American Numismatic Association. He traces U.S. history through the coins that were struck along the way. With many significant pictures and images of coins, the book is considered a resource to help beginners learn the trade.[13]

John Albanese, one of the world's top-ranked coin graders, wrote a forward to Hollis book.[14]

Acknowledgments

Hollis has received the:

Hollis has recently been nominated by Louisiana House Speaker Chuck Kleckley to serve as a member of the Louisiana Commission on Marriage and Family. He is also a member of the newly-formed Gulf Coast Legislative Council.


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Paul Hollis' Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Louisiana Secretary of State – Election Results by Parish". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Lauren, McGaughy, "State Rep. Paul Hollis of Covington to challenge Mary Landrieu for U.S. Senate seat", December 30, 2013". 'New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ The Moon Griffon Show, July 14, 2014
  5. ↑ "Ex-candidate sues challenging U.S. Sen. Landrieu's residency". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Paul Hollis to Announce Candidacy – Louisiana Coin Dealer Running for U.S. Senate". coinlink. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Paul Hollis Rare Coins". Coin Week. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Hollis to give away 40,000 Lincoln cents". Numismatic News. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Students given dollars". Numismatic News. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  10. ↑ "1844-0 Proof Returned Home". Coin News. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  11. ↑ "HB1 – 2011 1st Extraordinary Session (Act 1)". Louisiana Legislature. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Louisiana House of Representatives – Redistricting PSC". Louisiana Legislature. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  13. ↑ "American Numismatist (Book by Paul Hollis)". Silver Towne L.P. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  14. ↑ "American Numismatist (Book by Paul Hollis)". Silver Towne L.P. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Pro-Business Louisiana Legislators Lauded at Legis-Gator Luncheon". Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  16. ↑ "LABI Legislator Ranking". Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  17. ↑ "2012 Legislative Award Winners". Louisiana Family Forum. Retrieved March 11, 2013.

External links