The death of Paul J. Holloway, one of NH's most renowned business leaders, was announced today by the NH Automobile Dealers Association (NHADA). "It is with profound sadness that we say a heartfelt goodbye to one of the titans of our industry, Paul J. Holloway, Jr., who passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 14, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Few people have had a great impact on the people of New Hampshire quite like Paul Holloway. He leaves a legacy of generosity, community leadership, business success and family ties that will live well beyond his years," the NHADA stated ina press release.
Holloway began his career as a district manager of Buick Motor Division. In 1967, he invested all of his assets in a Buick-Pontiac dealership in Exeter that had sold only 90 new and used cars the previous year, and renamed it Dreher-Holloway, and grew it into into one of the largest dealerships in NH, according to his bigraphy on the University of NH web site for the Paul J. Holloway Prize Competition, an annual business plan competition for the univeristy's undergraduate and graduate students.
He won numerous industry awards, including Time magazine “Quality Dealer of the Year.” In 2019, the Community College System of NH honored Holloway with the Walter R. Peterson Award for Education and Public Service. Holloway served as chair of the Community College System board of trustees since 2005, after joining the board in 2003. He was credited for getting business and industry leaders involved in automotive training programs in the state. He has received the Robert Frost Contemporary American Award, the University of New Hampshire Alumni Association Profile of Service Award, the USNH Chancellor’s Award, and an honorary doctorate from the University of NH. He also was selected as one of New Hampshire’s 10 most powerful people by Business NH Magazine and was awarded the David C. Knapp Award for Trusteeship by the New England Board of Higher Education.
Holloway served as president of the 19,500 member National Automobile Dealers Association from 1998 to 1999.
He was also a partner in the Clipper Nursing and Retirement Homes until he sold the business in 1997, and was an owner of the Wentworth Marina in New Castle. In 2016, Holloway sold Dreher-Holloway Inc. to Sheree Kaplan Allen, owner of Jake Kaplan's Ltd.
Holloway committed himself to serving the state and advancing education. He served as chair of the University System of NH Board of Trustees and spearheaded fundraising programs at Temple University, Governor Dummer Academy, and the NH Charitable Foundation. UNH named Holloway Commons dining hall iafter him n recognition of his significant contributions to the university’s programs. Holloway has served as chair of the Community College System of NH and as a NH Lottery commissioner. He is a past member of the business school dean’s advisory board at the University of NH.
In 2022, Anna Grace and Paul Holloway have made a $1 million gift to the Foundation for New Hampshire Community College to establish an endowed scholarship for students enrolled at any of the state’s seven community colleges.
"Those who knew and worked alongside Paul will know he was, first and foremost, a dedicated servant to all those around him. He had a fire that burned within him to do good and to work to lift others and give back. His immeasurable work ethic and unwavering leadership yielded incredible results and placed him in constant demand for his guidance and advice," the NHADA stated in its press release.
“For those of us lucky enough to have worked closely with him for years, Paul was more than a role model, he was a beacon lighting the way for all of us to follow. He was never afraid to be the tip of the spear fighting for issues that were important to industry and him and his family,” says Dan Bennett, president of the NHADA. “It probably would have been enough for all of us to simply follow his example of success in our industry; Paul had a Midas Touch of sorts in his business dealings. But he didn’t stop there. He dedicated time and energy to causes beyond his own interests and set a high standard of community service, especially in educating young people. He will be deeply missed.”
The Holloway family asks for privacy during this time. Instead of flowers, that family is asking that contributions be made to Little Harbor Charitable Foundation at PO Box 2093, New Castle, NH 03854.
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