Sunday, March 10, 2024

Bill Crawford: Holloway Memoir Illustrates Importance of Entrepreneurs

The memoir of hall of fame entrepreneur J.L. Holloway illustrates the important role local entrepreneurs have played in job creation across Mississippi.

Nothing to Lose: A Story of Poverty, Resilience, and Gratitude tracks Holloway’s job creation successes and failures from the dirt poor Gransby Community in rural Jefferson Davis County to major companies on the Gulf Coast and in the Jackson metro area. From Mississippi Equipment Rental and Supply in Richland, which he sold, to the conglomerate he formed from HAM Industries, Friede Goldman, and Halter Marine in Jackson County, which took bankruptcy, to Tenax Aerospace in Madison County, which he sold, Holloway created many jobs that continue today under new owners.

So too did Owen Cooper of Yazoo City, D.R. Sanderson of Laurel, Warren A. Hood, Sr. of Jackson, W.A. Taylor, Sr. of Louisville, Sammie Davidson of Meridian, and many more business creators across Mississippi.

As economic development efforts focus so much on attracting out of state businesses for job creation, are we still generating homegrown entrepreneurs to create jobs?

Yes, but the resources committed to entrepreneurship are a smidgen of those committed to recruiting out-of-state businesses.

Over the years, Innovate Mississippi has helped 1,580 plus companies that created 2,900 plus jobs. Entrepreneur and business development centers at Mississippi universities have helped hundreds of startups get off the ground – some very successful. Other programs in communities around the state help small businesses get started and grow. There are also programs that teach entrepreneurship at community colleges and high schools.

Still, major job creation entrepreneurs in Mississippi like Holloway are mostly self-generating. A prime example would be the Duff brothers, James and Thomas, who purchased Southern Tire Mart in 2003. Today their company, Duff Capital Investors, operates 20 plus companies that employ over 15,000 people.

Holloway’s memoir, co-written by Neil White, highlights Holloway’s tenacity and unflagging work ethic as keys to his success. Entrepreneurship guru William Hatcher of Meridian contends those are attributes of successful entrepreneurs that cannot be taught. Rather they are innate tendencies honed by early life experiences.

As part of a Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation grant to promote entrepreneurship at Meridian Community College, Hatcher developed the Make-A-Job Workshop. While teaching fundamentals of small business development, the workshop’s true purpose was to assess participants’ tenacity and work ethic. Those without those attributes were encouraged to stick with Take-A-Job careers.

To see what that means in action, read Nothing to Lose.

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty,” Proverbs 14:23.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great mentors for entrepreneurs! Sadly, the business climate in Jackson will never facilitate any case studies like these.

Anonymous said...

In most communities of Mississippi, all small towns, young people's dreams of economic progress begins with finding a way to get out of Mississippi. That has been a sad reality since the civil war. In most places it still remains. Some who inherit a business or a sizeable estate decide to stay and grow but for most it's still too little too late. Change will take dynamic leadership which remains in very short supply.

Anonymous said...

Funny he mentioned InnovateMS and all of their “success”. Imagine if they had events outside of Jackson in the other 81 counties.

Anonymous said...

It’s “Granby Community in rural Jefferson Davis County,” not “Gransby Community.” I‘ve never heard of the man, either.

Anonymous said...

11:19 - You're entirely wrong. Why make shit up? Do yourself a favor and bring up any town and review the population demographic statistics.

If your bullshit were true, there would only be a handful of people over the age of 40 in any Mississippi town.

If you have trouble finding the Greyhound station, post here again and someone will help.

Stan Flint said...

J.A. was a man of strong faith, family values and hard work. A great example. If you want to see similar Entreprenurial talent in Jackson, you only need to go as far a Jim Barksdale (and many others). Also, Innovate MS has programs statewide and helping entrepreneurs from Biloxi to Byhalia. They are a huge benefit to our tech start-up on the Coast.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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