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Downs has an older brother, Robert Warren Downs and wife, Susan Jo Downs, of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. Downs's sister, Jane Downs Watts of Ruston, the wife of Tucker Watts, was formerly married to Bruce N. Lynn, II (born 1950), the son of the Republican former State Representative Bruce Lynn of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana.<ref name=juelobit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=juel-chappell&pid=172688581&fhid=6320|title=Juel Chappell Obituary|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>Coincidentally, former Representative Bruce Lynn's wife died on the same day as Hollis Downs's mother. Margaret Lynn and Juel Downs Chappell hence shared three grandchildren, one of whom was Ross Alexander Lynn (1979–2013), a [[photographer]] and mountain climber killed in a farming accident on the Lynn plantation in Caddo Parish at the age of thirty-three.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=margaret-lynn&pid=172688600&fhid=10218#sthash.Q5qGNiY3.dpuf|title=Margaret Lynn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>The Ross Alexander Lynn Foundation was established in his honor in Ruston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bozemandailychronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=166685752|title=Ross Alexander Lynn|publisher=''Bozeman Daily Chronicle''|location=[[Bozeman, Montana|Bozeman]], [[Montana]]|date=August 30, 2013|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>​

Downs has an older brother, Robert Warren Downs and wife, Susan Jo Downs, of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. Downs's sister, Jane Downs Watts of Ruston, the wife of Tucker Watts, was formerly married to Bruce N. Lynn, II (born 1950), the son of the Republican former State Representative Bruce Lynn of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana.<ref name=juelobit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=juel-chappell&pid=172688581&fhid=6320|title=Juel Chappell Obituary|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>Coincidentally, former Representative Bruce Lynn's wife died on the same day as Hollis Downs's mother. Margaret Lynn and Juel Downs Chappell hence shared three grandchildren, one of whom was Ross Alexander Lynn (1979–2013), a [[photographer]] and mountain climber killed in a farming accident on the Lynn plantation in Caddo Parish at the age of thirty-three.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=margaret-lynn&pid=172688600&fhid=10218#sthash.Q5qGNiY3.dpuf|title=Margaret Lynn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>The Ross Alexander Lynn Foundation was established in his honor in Ruston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bozemandailychronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=166685752|title=Ross Alexander Lynn|publisher=''Bozeman Daily Chronicle''|location=[[Bozeman, Montana|Bozeman]], [[Montana]]|date=August 30, 2013|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>​

 

Like his mother, Downs graduated from Louisiana Tech. In 1968, after leaving college, he served in the [[United States Army]] until 1974, when he joined the [[Louisiana National Guard]] for a final two-year stint. Downs is a financial planner in Ruston, where he resides with his wife, Catherine "Cathy" Downs. He is a member of the [[United Methodist]] denomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezpetition.com/congressorg/bio/id/141484|title=Rep. Hollis Downs, R-LA|publisher=ezpetition.com|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref>​

Like his mother, Downs graduated from Louisiana Tech. In 1968, after leaving college, he served in the [[United States Army]] until 1974, when he joined the Louisiana National Guard for a final two-year stint. Downs is a financial planner in Ruston, where he resides with his wife, Catherine "Cathy" Downs. He is a member of the [[United Methodist]] denomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezpetition.com/congressorg/bio/id/141484|title=Rep. Hollis Downs, R-LA|publisher=ezpetition.com|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref>​

 

==Political life==​

==Political life==​

Downs won a [[special election]] to the state House held in January 2003 created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Representative Jay McCallum, who became a judge. Downs won the contest by 36 votes over fellow Republican Chuck Earle, 3,838 to 3,802.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 18, 2003.</ref>​

Downs won a [[special election]] to the state House held in January 2003 created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Representative Jay McCallum, who became a judge. Downs won the contest by 36 votes over fellow Republican Chuck Earle, 3,838 to 3,802.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 18, 2003.</ref>​

 

Downs then won four-year terms in the elections of 2003 and 2007 without opposition.<ref name="ReferenceA">Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Downs did not seek a third full term in the primary election held on October 22, 2011.<ref name=beder>{{cite web|url=http://www.fgazette.com/news.php?id=1534|author=Scott Beder|title=Downs won't run for third term; Russell to seek open House seat|date= April 28, 2011|publisher=''The Farmerville Gazette''|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> ​

Downs then won four-year terms in the elections of 2003 and 2007 without opposition.<ref name="ReferenceA">Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Downs did not seek a third full term in the primary election held on October 22, 2011.<ref name=beder>{{cite web|url=http://www.fgazette.com/news.php?id=1534|author=Scott Beder|title=Downs won't run for third term; Russell to seek open House seat|date= April 28, 2011|publisher=''The Farmerville Gazette''|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref>  

 

In 2011, Downs sponsored House Bill 448 which would have charged college students for fifteen credit hours, rather than the current twelve semester hours. According to the Legislative Fiscal Office, the change would raise about $74 million a year. Downs said that previous policy in which students pay only for twelve hours encourages them to enroll in additional courses that they frequently drop by the time of withdrawal day. Therefore, colleges must hire more faculty and staff than they would otherwise need. Downs said that the 15-hour requirement would encourage students to take more classes and to graduate earlier. The additional funds raised would compensate too, he said, for other budget cuts in higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/tuition-raising_measures_clear.html|author=Jan Moller|title=Tuition-raising measures clear first committee hurdle|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> However, the full House overwhelmingly rejected Downs' bill and a similar measure by Republican Representative Frank Albert Hoffmann (born 1944) of West Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/2_bills_designed_to_raise_coll.html|title=Two bills designed to raise Louisiana college costs derailed|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 7, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> ​

In 2011, Downs sponsored House Bill 448 which would have charged college students for fifteen credit hours, rather than the current twelve semester hours. According to the Legislative Fiscal Office, the change would raise about $74 million a year. Downs said that previous policy in which students pay only for twelve hours encourages them to enroll in additional courses that they frequently drop by the time of withdrawal day. Therefore, colleges must hire more faculty and staff than they would otherwise need. Downs said that the 15-hour requirement would encourage students to take more classes and to graduate earlier. The additional funds raised would compensate too, he said, for other budget cuts in higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/tuition-raising_measures_clear.html|author=Jan Moller|title=Tuition-raising measures clear first committee hurdle|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> However, the full House overwhelmingly rejected Downs' bill and a similar measure by Republican Representative Frank Albert Hoffmann (born 1944) of West Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/2_bills_designed_to_raise_coll.html|title=Two bills designed to raise Louisiana college costs derailed|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 7, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> ​

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In the primary held on October 22, 2011, Bullock had led the balloting with 45 percent, and Shadoin trailed with nearly 39 percent of the vote. A third Republican candidate, Jacob "Jake" Halley, held the remaining but critical 16 percent of the primary vote. No [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] sought the seat.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 22, 2011</ref>​

In the primary held on October 22, 2011, Bullock had led the balloting with 45 percent, and Shadoin trailed with nearly 39 percent of the vote. A third Republican candidate, Jacob "Jake" Halley, held the remaining but critical 16 percent of the primary vote. No [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] sought the seat.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 22, 2011</ref>​

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==References==​

==References==​

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