Biographical Note: 

Fritz Hollings served his state and nation as a soldier during World War II, as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Charleston, 1949 to 1954, as Lieutenant Governor, 1955 to 1959, as Governor, 1959 to 1963, and finally, as U.S. Senator, 1966 to 2005.

As a state representative, Hollings supported anti-lynching legislation, a sales tax to support education, an increase in teacher’s salaries, and reform of unemployment compensation.  He went after and won over industrial interests for the state as Lieutenant Governor and built on this success as Governor.  He worked to improve the state's educational system at all levels, develop industry, and balance the state budget, helping South Carolina to earn the AAA credit rating.   

Hollings served in the U.S. Senate from 1966 until his retirement in January 2005.  As Senator, he cultivated a lasting interest and devotion to issues including campaign financing, international trade, public education, space exploration, telecommunications, transportation safety and security, hunger and poverty, oceans and the environment, and the federal budget.