University Of Mobile: University Of Mobile Announces Alumni Of The Decade For 60th Diamond Anniversary

Press release from the University of Mobile:

Sydney Snow

October 25, 2021

MOBILE, Ala. –

Formerly known as Mobile College, the University of Mobile officially changed its name in 1993 and celebrates its 60th anniversary on Dec. 12, 1961. Alumni of both eras were invited to nominate their peers to be voted on for Alumni of the Decade. Nominations were reviewed by a committee from the UM Alumni Board, and recipients were chosen by a panel representing alumni, faculty and staff.

Recipients will be honored at a luncheon at the university on Nov. 19  and featured in the upcoming issue of the TorchLight alumni magazine.

Alumni of the Decade honorees are:

Tom Holmes, Class of 1967. Holmes retired as CEO/executive director of The Arc of Alabama. He is an award-winning human rights advocate, having served Alabama citizens with intellectual disabilities on the local, state, and national levels. Today, he serves as board president of The Arc of Mobile County.

Holmes earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in history at Mobile College and was a member of the first graduating class in 1967. He said attending the university has given him many opportunities to develop and improve his writing, leadership and service skills.

At Mobile College, he was business manager of The Rampage yearbook, Chief Justice in the Student Court, and a charter member and president of the Phi Mu chapter of the Alpha Pi Omega National Service Fraternity. He also chaired a committee to organize and establish an alumni association.

In 1986, Holmes and his brothers funded the Bethune-Holmes Memorial Scholarship in honor of their parents, Annie Jo Bethune Holmes and Fred Boyles Holmes Sr. This scholarship benefits students from Baldwin and Conecuh counties.

Holmes is currently involved in Alpha Phi Omega National Fraternity, Arise Citizens Policy Project, Troop 3 Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, Cottage Hill Civitan Club, Mobile County Democratic Executive Committee, The Arc of Alabama Board of Directors and Public Policy Committee, The Arc of the United States Policy and Positions Committee, and Trinity Episcopal Church.

John Bruns, Class of 1978. Bruns became a registered nurse after completing his associate degree in nursing at UM. He decided to move to Mobile and pursue a degree in health care after serving four years in the army. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from The Citadel in 1972.

This press release was produced by the University of Mobile. The views expressed here are the author’s own.