DOBBINS HEIGHTS — After more than two decades, Tyre Holloway will be putting his college degree to use.
Holloway, who earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from UNC-Pembroke in 2000, was sworn in Wednesday as the new clerk for the town of Dobbins Heights.
“This has been a journey,” Holloway said. “This has been almost 23 years in the making, but here we are.”
For the brief swearing-in ceremony, Holloway was joined by his wife, mother and sister, Mayor Antonio Blue and Councilwoman Angeline David. Others in the audience included his former classmate Sheriff Mark Gulledge, and Ellerbe Mayor Brenda Capel.
The oath was administered by Lynn McKinnon.
Holloway, 44, was first elected to the Dobbins Heights Town Council in 2013 and has been mayor pro tem since 2015. He was reelected to another four-year term in 2021.
“He gets an opportunity now to do what he went to school for,” said Blue. “Tyre has been a great asset to the town already.”
In most cases, elected officials are ineligible to serve or act as heads of departments, but N.C. General Statute 160A-158 does allow for the appointment by the council as department head or employee if the town has a population of fewer than 5,000.
Dobbins Heights has a population of 687, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Holloway had worked for Champion Ford until July 31, and started work as acting clerk on Aug. 1, succeeding Regina Hamilton.
“My council has been firm and faithful in me and so, I don’t take this lightly,” Holloway said. “I take this with the utmost seriousness … for the benefit of the town of Dobbins Heights, as well as Richmond County.
“We’ve got work to do, we’re going to get it done, we’re going to see the results and we’re going to be proud … and we’re going to partner to make it all happen.”
