Community loses business pioneer with passing of Ruth Holloway

Former Poplar Bluff real estate agent and broker Ruth Holloway, 95, died Saturday at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Holloway was a previous Citizen of the Year for Poplar Bluff and Woman of the Year in Corning, Arkansas, recognitions her family says she was very proud to receive.

“Ruth has always been an iconic figure in Poplar Bluff. Her accomplishments are far reaching. We were honored to award her as a citizen of the year in 1999,” said Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter.

When presented with the award in January 2000, Holloway was described as a “pioneer businesswoman,” who went from manager of Yamnitz IGA in Corning, Arkansas, to earning her real estate license in the 1970s and opening her own office in Poplar Bluff.

“She had the tremendous respect of the community. I have a lot of good memories,” said Rick Brittingham, a Poplar Bluff real estate agent said.

Brittingham believes he was fortunate to have a front row seat when he started his real estate career with her.

“I learned from a maverick,” he said, explaining at that time, “it was very unusual to have a woman as a broker in what was considered a man’s field.”

“She was one of the best public relations people I have known. She loved the people of Poplar Bluff.”

Holloway ran a tight ship, he said.

“Ruth always looked incredible,” he said. “She had a lot of class. She was very sharp mentally.”

Brittingham recalls she adapted and made changes when they were needed. When computers first began being used in real estate offices, she told her staff they needed to adapt as well.

“She was a great entertainer,” he said. “She gave really good parties. She loved to have a good time. She was a lot of fun. There will never be anyone like her again.”

Brittingham says he had some of my best fights with Holloway.

“I was taking my son Ryan, who was about 6 years old at the time, to one of his baseball games one afternoon,” he said. “Ruth called. We got in a heated argument. Ryan said, ‘Dad, did you just get fired?’ I said, ‘It sure sounded like it.’

“There will never be another Ruth. I loved her and I know she loved me.”

Poplar Bluff native and retired journalist Charlotte W. Craig, said Holloway was a sweet friend to many people.

“Ruth was the queen of the real estate world in this area and a thorough professional. She also was a big supporter of Poplar Bluff and she always had a float in a parade,” Craig said.

Holloway had lived in recent years in Jonesboro, with her son-in-law and daughter, Robert and Gail Speer.

In 2000, Speer attributed her mother’s success, in part, to an ability to problem solve.

“She sees the whole picture,” Speer said at the time. “She doesn’t have tunnel vision She seems to come to an answer, or at least real good advice on how to solve problems.”

In 2013, Holloway told Daily American Republic staff the Citizen of the Year award shocked her.

“Many people supported me in Poplar Bluff and Butler County,” she added. “There are many reasons why Poplar Bluff and Butler County still mean so much to me.

In 1986, I joined a group of people known as ‘The Friday Night Group.’ One thing all of us had in common was a love for our community. My real estate office meant a lot to me. Through my business I was able to meet so many wonderful people in the area.”

A full obituary appears on page 5A.