Dr. Presley Dixon (Pres) Holmes, Jr., 87, passed away the evening of
August 3, 2016 to, as he put it, “make room for someone else”.

Born in Chicago in April of 1929, Pres grew up a lover of trains and
maps, an avid listener to radio serials (which he was clear were “not
soap operas”), and his home was the popular place for his friends to
gather to play the new game, _Monopoly._ Pres was a lover of card and
board games with his family, sunny afternoons on the Lake Michigan
beach, and Michigan football - publishing in the _Michigan Daily_ his
correct prediction of the final score of the 1948 Rose Bowl Game:
Michigan 49, Southern California 0.

Around home Pres was a self described “Do-It-Yourselfer”, taking
deserved pride in a great variety of projects, including the continual
design and improvement of a summer cottage on the shore of Lake
Michigan. When asked how the cottage was coming along, he'd respond
with a wry smile “I'm in year 15 of the first five year plan”.

Pres graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors degree
in 1950, and a Masters Degree in Speech (Radio) in 1951. He was
drafted into the Army that August. Honorably discharged in 1953, he
continued his education at the University of Paris, Sorbonne, where he
was awarded the Dege Annuel, Mention Bien. Pres earned a Doctorate in
Speech (TV) from Wayne State University in 1959.

Joining Ohio University in 1962, Pres was Director of Broadcasting and
became associate dean and tenured full professor in the College of
Communication. He also served the National Association of Educational
Broadcasters, later joining the NAEB staff in Washington, DC.

In the Early 70's Pres was a member of the “six pack” which advised
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on the structure of PBS, where
he insisted the “S” must stand for “Service”.

Following a few years as programming Vice-President at National Public
Radio, Pres returned to Chicago as President and CEO of the Chicago
Metropolitan Higher Education Council. In 1982 Pres joined the West
Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority as Executive Director and
CEO; and concluded his professional life as Director of Broadcasting
at Delta College in Michigan, retiring in April, 1992.

Throughout his career, Pres undertook many consulting projects,
including with the Appalachian Educational Laboratory, the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting, the Public Broadcasting Service, and the
US/AID Teacher Training Project in Kano, Nigeria. He was a charter
member of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council, served the
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, on the board of
directors of the Public Service Satellite Consortium, and published
articles in various journals and textbooks.

In passing, Pres follows his parents Presley D. Holmes Sr. and Mildred
Rufsvold, sister Priscilla Karen Jameson, daughter Karen Loveless and
grandson William Holmes; along with his wife, Cindy, who passed away
only 15 days earlier, on July 19th. Pres' final wishes were that there
be no ceremony or commemoration marking his death.

Among those mourning his passing are daughters Margret Shields (Dave),
and Kristin Halsey (Tom); sons Neil Holmes (Charmaine) and Reid Holmes
(Katy); and grandchildren Terry Pyatt and Molly Loveless; Megan and
Karlie Shields; Emma, Valerie and Jaxen Halsey; Samantha Holmes;
Peter, Anna and Zac Holmes. His family and friends take comfort that
Pres' Public Broadcasting legacy continues to educate and inspire
everyday.

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