EDITOR'S NOTE: Written and compiled by Eric Jones, Coordinator of School & Community Relations for the Baldwin County School District. For much more, CLICK HERE.
Deputy Lieutenant Gail Hollis is a true hometown hero, dedicated to keeping our students and faculty safe as Baldwin High School's Senior Security Resource Officer. Her unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our community is a shining example of what it means to be a Baldwin High Brave.
“My high school years played a pivotal role in my life,” Hollis said, “it played a role in the evolution of the person I have become today. Being approached by some of the people in my community who saw something in me that I didn’t helped motivate and encourage me to look far and beyond.”
Hailing from the class of 1981, Lieutenant Hollis is a proud alumna of Baldwin High School. Her passion for her alma mater runs deep, and she has spent her entire career giving back to the school that gave her so much. With 27 years of service as the school's Senior Resource Officer at Baldwin High School, Hollis is a familiar and beloved face on campus. But her service to Baldwin County doesn't stop there. For 31 and a half years, Hollis has served on the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners, fighting for the needs and interests of our community. Her dedication to public service is an inspiration to us all.
Hollis is no stranger to hard work and dedication. As a member of the Baldwin High School Basketball Bravettes, she helped take the team to the 1981 Region Championship and State Runner-up title. "My four years of high school here were fast and really competitive, and I enjoyed every moment of it," said Hollis. Her leadership and teamwork skills, honed on the court, continue to serve her well in her role as Senior Security Resource Officer and as a Lieutenant in the Milledgeville Police Department.
"Thanks to my coach, who took her time out to take me to Troy State University to try out for the Lady Trojans, which also gave me an opportunity to meet the head coach at that time. I got to play one on one against All American Denise Monroe, and that was an awesome experience," Hollis said. She went on to achieve her Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice while playing for the Lady Trojans.
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After getting her degree, Deputy Lieutenant Hollis brought her wealth of knowledge and experience back to Milledgeville at the police department, working her way up through the ranks beginning as a 911 Operator. "The Sheriff came up to me one day, and called me to his office," she recalled, "and I was really scared because you didn't get called into the sheriff's office unless you'd done something wrong. But he said, 'I need you to be my school resource officer at the high school, so I pondered that for a minute before saying that I would. I began working at the high school in August, 1996, working under Principal Lyn Chandler." In her position at Baldwin High School, she remains a trusted authority in matters of safety and security, and her expertise is a valuable asset to our school community. “I can truly say that my life difference came from never being left unsupervised,” she said, “you become your best when you’re able to say, ‘that’s good enough.’”
Deputy Lieutenant Hollis embodies the spirit of Baldwin High School pride, and we are honored to call her one of our own. Her tireless dedication to keeping our community safe is a testament to the values instilled in her as a Brave. We are grateful for her service and proud to have her as a member of the Baldwin High School family.
...CLICK HERE to meet the family!