The first time I met Nall Hollis, he came into the office to invite me to a birthday party… for dogs… society dogs.

All the ladies in the Troy social circle were invited to come and bring their precious pups, dressed for the occasion.

This man’s a nut, I thought.

When the ladies arrived, they all came dressed to the nines. the ladies and the precious pups!

Now, to say a “good time” was had by all, would be an understatement. The party was for dogs, and on the Troy University campus. The dogs’ party quickly became the talk of the town,

Nall Hollis had made craziness in vogue in Troy and beyond.

How many times did someone say, “That man’s a nut” and then let go of any inhibitions. Everyone let louse when Nall was in the house”

He did fun and crazy things. Perhaps, the day he released balloons on the Troy University campus and knocked out all the electricity, the students had a Nalladay

The biggest event was when he hosted his heritage(s) in wedding ceremony style at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.

In celebration of his three heritages, Nall wore a white graduation robe white in recognition in  honor of his “white” heritage.

He wore a basketball uniform in honor of his black heritage and a war bonnet in honor of Indian heritage. Sheila Jackson was a canary.

Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins was an attendant, Alabama’s Legendary Storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham was the matron of honor. She had never felt so silly and neither had she ever had so much fun.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of art, Nall comes to mind because he made everything and, in the so doing, art was the highlight of it all.

He shared his books, his artwork and his love of, and appreciation for the arts, in many ways. That’s mighty fine heritage, a man who was a nut.