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A native of Farmerville in Union Parish, Downs is the second of three children of Woodrow Alexander Downs and Juel Meredith Downs Chappell (1919–2014), a native of Grayson in Caldwell Parish and a daughter of James Monroe Downs and the former Pearl Jane Hearne. After Woodrow Downs's death, Juel married Dr. William Chappell, Jr., since deceased, from whom she acquired a step-daughter, Nancy Oviatt and her husband Steve of Catharpin, [[Virginia]], and a step-son, William Chappell, III, of Pearisburg in Giles County, Virginia. In her later years, Juel, who had worked for the office of state social services in Farmerville, moved to Ruston. She instituted the first [[Girl Scouts]] chapter in Farmerville.<ref name=juelobit/> ​

A native of Farmerville in Union Parish, Downs is the second of three children of Woodrow Alexander Downs and Juel Meredith Downs Chappell (1919–2014), a native of Grayson in Caldwell Parish and a daughter of James Monroe Downs and the former Pearl Jane Hearne. After Woodrow Downs's death, Juel married Dr. William Chappell, Jr., since deceased, from whom she acquired a step-daughter, Nancy Oviatt and her husband Steve of Catharpin, [[Virginia]], and a step-son, William Chappell, III, of Pearisburg in Giles County, Virginia. In her later years, Juel, who had worked for the office of state social services in Farmerville, moved to Ruston. She instituted the first [[Girl Scouts]] chapter in Farmerville.<ref name=juelobit/> ​

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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, I, 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>

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>​

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>

==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>​