Holmes, Otis Halbert, 1902-

United States Representative in Congress from Washington State, 1943-1958.

O. H. (Hal) Holmes was born at Cresco, Iowa on February 22, 1902. He was educated at Whitman College at Walla Walla, and Columbia University in 1928 to 1929, then returned to Washington to become a member of the Central Washington State College faculty, where he was employed until 1940. At that time, he became a wheat and livestock rancher in the Ellensburg area. Holmes was elected to Congress in 1942 and served successively until his retirement in 1958. During his congressional career he served on the Ways and Means, Irrigation and Reclamation, Public Lands, Indian Affairs, and Pension committees.

Holmes is the grandson of Dudley Chase Haskell, Republican member of Congress from Kansas from 1876 to 1883.