Ernest L. Holloway, who served longer than any other president of Langston University, died Saturday. He was 81. Holloway was being treated for stomach cancer in Texas, said Currie Ballard, former university historian in residence.
Holloway, who became the university’s 14th president in 1979, spent more than 40 years at the school in a variety of positions.
He served as the school’s registrar, a professor, vice president of administration and dean of student affairs.
Holloway also was a student at Langston.
Holloway was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1999.
The university had five presidents in less than 10 years before Holloway became president, and during that time there was talk of closing the school.
Holloway brought stability to Langston, which was created in 1897 as the Colored Agricultural and Normal University. “If he had stumbled as president of Langston, there wouldn’t be Langston as we know it,” Ballard said. “He’s the only person I’ve ever known in a high position of authority to have an open-door policy. If you were an alumnus, he had the same policy at his home.”
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