Walter Bryant Hollifield

Born August 5, 1946, in Campobello, South Carolina, Walt attended Boiling Springs High School. He served as Military Police in the United States Army at Fort Lewis in Washington State. It was here he met his future wife Linda by drag-racing her in Olympia. After the Army, he continued his education at Centralia College in Washington.

Walt will be remembered as a man who was warm, generous, and hardworking. His love for work was fueled by his boundless energy and entrepreneurial spirit. Walt started his own textile chemical companies from A-Chem to American Textile Specialties. He was well known in the textile industry for his expertise, his products and his industry knowledge. You would find him always talking on the phone and driving all over the Southeast to sell his products and troubleshoot the dyeing and finishing processes at the mills.

His work ethic was matched only by his welcoming spirit. Walt’s enduring legacy is in two parts: that he opened his home to mentor people along the way, and that he was a GTO expert. Walt was famous for his love for the original American muscle car and sought-after for his work in the world of GTOs and classic cars.

He dedicated his time and resources to causes close to his heart, serving on the Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation Board and supporting organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Walt was involved in Elvis Presley Enterprises by restoring Elvis’s 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III. He was a special Advisor to the Executive team at Graceland on Elvis’s car collection and Graceland Stables operations. For more than 30 years, Walt was synonymous with Charlotte’s annual Auto Fair and the “Walt Hollifield Best in Show” Award was named in his honor. Among his many contributions to Auto Fair, he was a trusted visionary to SMI Ownership on Auto Fair events and was highly respected by the car clubs and exhibitors. He secured countless top shelf attractions including the First Elvis Tribute Artist competition at Auto Fair.

Walt is survived by his second wife, Mary Hollifield; his children, Trace Hollifield and Christl Hollifield Arias; his cherished grandchildren, Olivia and Annaliese Hollifield, Caleb and Joy Ray; sister, Lois "Sissy" Wilson; brother, John “Jr” Hollifield; along with his faithful companion, Duke the dog.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Linda Hollifield; his parents, John Hollifield and Bessie Gilbert Blackwell; and his brothers, Vernon, Wilford, and James Hollifield.

A celebration of Walt’s life will be held at a later date, where family and friends will gather to honor the remarkable man who touched so many lives.