Dr. Robert A. Holmes was born in Harlem, New York and raised by his mother Priscilla Holmes. He was later sent to live and attend school in West Virginia. Holmes was among the first black students to integrate Shepherdstown High School in 1957. Holmes later earned his undergraduate degree from Shepherd College, he then moved back to New York where he earned his Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University. Holmes moved to Atlanta where he established a political science program at Atlanta (now Clark Atlanta) University. Holmes also served on the Georgia House of Representatives as a Georgia State Legislator. While in the Legislature he was a member of the appropriations committee and the first African American on the budget committee. Holmes also spent a great deal of time in the business world; he was co-founder and board member of Capitol City Bank, co-owner of Dataware Zenith Computer franchise and Policy Design Corporation, he worked for National Popular Vote and worked on the finance committee of the Fulton DeKalb Hospital Authority. Holmes was also a prolific writer he worked as editor of the Georgia Legislative Review (1991-2004) and the Status of Black Atlanta (1993-2005). Holmes’ biggest works are his two published books Maynard Jackson: A Biography and From Poverty to History Maker: An Autobiography.