By By MELISSA GODSEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Former Niles mayor William Holmes, Sr. passed away Friday, Dec. 29.
Holmes became a city council member – called aldermen at that time – in 1950. He was mayor pro tem from 1957 until he became mayor April 6, 1964. He served as mayor until 1966.
Holmes served on the board of utilities, or what was the board of public works, for 31 years. He served as the vice chairman of the board of utilities in 1999.
In his lifetime, he served on many boards and committees, Ruth Harte, Niles city clerk, said Friday.
"He was involved in city government forever," Harte said.
Holmes also owned and operated Holmes Service Station at Grant Street and Saint Joseph Avenue in Niles. He retired from the service station in 1977 and ran Ye Olde Coffee Shop and Bill's Concessions.
He was a mild mannered, easygoing and kind person, public works director Neil Coulston said. Although he did not know Holmes when he served as mayor, Coulston attended several meetings with him when he was still involved in city politics.