The Post War Era and Back to Florida
by Bishop Holliman

In the summer of 1955, Bishop Holliman took his young family to Daytona Beach, Florida  to join his newly widowed father and the Robert Daly family.  Left to right, Robert Daly, Sr., Vena Holliman Daly, Becky Holliman, age 5, and Gerry Stansbery Holliman, age 31.

"1941 was my last trip to Florida with the Daly trio until 1955 two months after my mother's death.  The simple pre-World War II world of Irondale, Alabama had given way to marriage, children and a career.  We were living in Johnson City, Tennessee and we drove to Ormond Beach to join Vena, Robert, Bobby Daly and Daddy, Ulyss S. Holliman, for a week.

Right in Daytona Beach, Florida in July 1955, two months after Pearl Caine Holliman died of a heart attack.  Back row is Ulyss Holliman, uncharacteristically wearing sun glasses, who had married Pearl in 1906 in Fayette, Alabama.  Next to him is his oldest daughter, Vena Holliman Daly and her husband, Robert Daly, Sr.  Far right is Bishop’s wife, Geraldine, and front row, Glenn Holliman,  age 8, Bishop Holliman, age 35 and Becky Holliman Payne.


Some things I should have remembered….

In 1935 or 1936 Robert got the bug to buy property in Florida and build and operate a ‘tourist court’, as it was called in those days before the coming of the Holiday Inn.  He wrote to real estate folks in several places and his interest in such a project may be why we went to Clearwater in 1936.

Above two first cousins treading Florida water in 1955. The writer, Glenn Holliman, is  on the left and right Robert Daly, Jr., age 11.  Bob is now a Ph.D. professor of biology at North Alabama State University, Florence, Alabama.

I guess the stress of his banking job was worse than anyone could know at the time.  His Aunt Alice was opposed to such a move and she told him to take up golf instead.  In 1939, he bought three lots on the beach at Daytona…the war came and Robert never built his tourist court."

Robert W. Daly, Sr. suffered from congestive heart failure which would take his life in 1959, age 58, a beloved family mentor.


Next, the 7th Child of Ulyss and Pearl Caine Holliman....