Holmes was the 13th IWU President, 1947 – 1958. Holmes, like many of his predecessors, was a Methodist minister, and also had been an Army Chaplain in the 165th Infantry, which became the famous 69th Infantry in World War I. He taught for three years at Garrett Biblical Institute and later became the Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Dean at Dakota Wesleyan University. For two years, he was the Secretary of Institutes in the Epworth League Department of the Methodist Board of Education, and before coming to IWU, he was the Secretary of the Department of Educational Institutions for African Americans for 14 years.