Longtime, faithful supporters of the University of Mississippi, Diane and J.L. Holloway of Nashville, Tennessee, recently made a $5 million gift to the Vaught Society, the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation’s (OMAF) fundraising level that provides financial assistance to student-athletes in the form of scholarships, academic guidance and wellness support.
“Diane and I felt the desire to make this gift at this time in support of all the special athletes who contribute to Ole Miss’ success. We were inspired by Coach [Chris] Beard and Coach [Pete] Golding’s passion to encourage the players to be their best on and off the court and the field,” Holloway said.
“We hope the gift will help elevate the programs and will show the players and coaches that we believe in them. We are very proud of the hard work and commitment they’ve shown, so we want to encourage the men and women to set their goals high, work hard, study hard and become philanthropic participants in their communities and beyond.
“And we really enjoy participating in and watching the competition!”
The Holloways’ recent support of Ole Miss Athletics is the latest of a lineage of major gifts the couple has made to the university.
In 2017, their gift of $1 million to OMAF’s Forward Together campaign helped strengthen UM’s sports programs, facilities and equipment. The university recognized the gift by naming the south entrance of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in their honor.
In 2024, the couple made a $200,000 gift to renovate the Green Room at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on the Oxford campus. Other Holloway gifts to various academic entities, including the Ole Miss Alumni Association, a $250,000 gift to the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy, university libraries and more, bring their total giving to more than $8.4 million.
OMAF CEO Denson Hollis is grateful for the Holloways and donors like them who share his vision for helping Rebel Nation continue to achieve national prominence.
“The support of Diane and J.L. has been essential to making our current and historic success possible,” Hollis said. “They have been supporters of Ole Miss Athletics for many years, and their gifts have greatly impacted our student-athletes by underwriting scholarships and facility improvements, helping to keep the Rebels competitive in their respective sports and high-achieving in their classes.
“We are extremely grateful for their most recent major gift, which will significantly contribute to the continued success of our student-athletes and programs.”
J.L. Holloway’s life story is a uniquely American one.
He started from humble beginnings. Growing up in Prentiss, Mississippi, Holloway had few resources and even fewer paths to success. But he was determined to improve his station in life. And he did — in a remarkable way.
After serving a six-month stint in the U.S. Army, Holloway landed his first job, which was selling sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. At 24, he started a small construction rental business that he built into a multistate organization before selling it.
Holloway then began HAM Marine, which became the foundation of Friede Goldman International. With his service as CEO, the company became a leading international provider of offshore drilling services. The business had operations in eight countries and employed some 8,000 people when Holloway retired.
Holloway came out of retirement to found Tenax Aerospace in Madison, Mississippi. The company leased aircraft to the U.S. government while Holloway invested in and operated other companies. Holloway sold Tenax in 2018. Afterwards, Holloway formed Sable Investments, where he invests in land development, health care, construction, real estate and veterinary clinics.
Holloway has used the benefits he earned to support his community. He has generously shared his financial rewards with many others, in addition to the university.
Additionally, he has received many honors over the years, including being named to the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame and receiving the Mississippi Governor’s Citizen of the Year award. The J.L. Holloway Business & Technology Center at Mississippi College was named in his honor in 2007.
His award-winning memoir, “Nothing to Lose: A Story of Poverty, Resilience, and Gratitude,” was released by Nautilus Publishing in 2024.
Diane Triplett Holloway, a 1985 UM graduate with a degree in interior design, is the daughter of the late Jackie and Dr. R. Faser Triplett of Jackson, Mississippi, who were both longtime dedicated Ole Miss supporters.
To join the Vaught Society, contact Denson Hollis, OMAF CEO, at denson@givetoathletics.com or 662-915-7159 or William Fisher, assistant athletic director for development, at fisher@givetoathletics.com or 662-915-7159. For more information, click here.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation