User:Timeholmes

"Guilt is like fine chocolate; it's OK to have some now and then, but don't binge." -Polly Holmes

Polly Holmes (Pauline Leigh Mudge Holmes, 1923-2005) was a writer and Montana legislator. Polly was a frequent columnist in several Montana newspapers and was respected even by those who disagreed with her. She challenged oppressive policies and ideas while never judging people. She championed unconditional compassion, and she practiced it throughout her personal and professional life.

She represented Billings in the Montana Legislature from 1970-1980, taking on unpopular issues like prison reform and programs serving people in poverty. She sponsored the first legislation banning smoking in public places, and when opponents all simultaneously lit cigars in the House Chambers, Polly completed her speech wearing a medical mask. She met with political leaders, imprisoned murderers, grieving mothers with the same equanimity and grace. She was awarded the Belle Winestine Award in 1996 by the Montana Women's Lobby. In 2003 she was awarded the ACLU Jeanette Rankin Civil Liberties Award acknowledging her lifelong work.

'''"There are all kinds of people in the world; and there aint one of 'em missing!"

'''"Never put a period where God has written a comma."

'"The universe is big and you are small but there is still only one of each. - Rev. Bob Holmes

Rev. Dr. Robert M. Holmes was a Methodist minister, serving in Rapid City, SD, Dixon, CA and Helena, MT for many years. He was also the Harley-riding chaplain of Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT from 1965 to 1981. He was the author of the popular radio and TV series of one-minute "Lifelifters", which aired regularly for years in Montana as well as Salt Lake City. Some were broadcast nationally in the late 1980's. A series of 12 of his sermons were broadcast nationally on "The Protestant Hour'Italic text in about 1987. The sermons were them published as Why Jesus Never Had Ulcers and Other Thought-Provoking Questions'Italic text''. He was a chaplain of the Helena Police Department for 22 years.  He also lent his speaking gifts to the Montana Committee for the Humanities Speaker's Bureau for several years.

Bob was born in 1925 in Mitchell, S.D., graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and earned graduate degrees from Northwestern University, Garrett Theological Seminary and Pacific School of Religion. He was a Navy ensign in WWII, big band leader, vaudeville comic, jazz pianist and arranger, rock climber, model train buff, honorary elder of a band of Lakota Sioux in South Dakota, personal counselor, radio show host, reader at Montana Talking Books Library, and deftly played the musical saw. Rev. Bob was an outspoken advocate for education, low-income people, single mothers, gays and lesbians, children in poverty, people in prison, the elderly and other people whose voices are not heard by the political system. He wrote, spoke, organized, testified before the legislature, and often stood alone to speak the truth out of his understanding for Jesus' message of compassion.

He published two books: The Academic Mysteryhouse The Man, The Campus and Their New Search for Meaning, Abington Press, 1970 and Why Jesus Never Had Ulcers and Other Thought-Provoking QuestionsItalic text, Winterholm Press, 1988