Dating all the way back to 1895, Romeoville has always had a clerk. For nearly the last 18 years, the clerk of Romeoville has been a Holloway.
Ray and Bernice Holloway moved to Romeoville in 2001 where Ray worked in Valley View School District’s Transportation Department. He was appointed Village Clerk in July 2004 and won election in 2005 and 2009 but passed away in August of 2010.
At that time, Bernice had recently retired from a 32-year career teaching, most recently at Roosevelt University. She was on Romeoville’s Planning and Zoning Commission and figured that would be the extent of her public service for the moment. When Ray passed away, Bernice was approached by Mayor Noak and, with the agreement of the village board, offered her the opportunity to fill Ray’s seat as clerk. She said, “If I can help, I’m willing to do that.” She was appointed clerk in November of 2010 and was elected to a two-year term in 2011. She was re-elected to full terms in 2013, 2017, and 2021.
What is the legacy of the Holloways in Romeoville? “The legacy is that of service,” said Bernice. “It’s something that I’ve always done, even when I was in education. Ray was into service as well.” In addition to being the village clerk, Bernice is active with the Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation and the Community Service Council. And Ray? Ray served his country as a marine from 1961-1965. He was involved with Romeoville’s American Legion Post 52 and recently received a great posthumous honor. The Legion is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a veteran, which will be named the Ray Holloway House. The executive board room in village hall is also named for Ray, something that occurred in January of 2011. “It was quite an honor to name the house after him and the meeting room,” said Bernice. “My sons were quite honored too and to see that Ray was still that important to everyone here.”
“I’m happy to have this opportunity to still be involved and be of service,” said Bernice. “Additionally, my youngest son, Richard, is continuing the tradition by serving on Romeoville’s Planning and Zoning Commission.” Service is clearly important to the Holloways and Romeoville is fortunate to have them, Mayor Noak commented.