On Friday, Mayor Andre Dickens joined the Holmes family, city officials, and community members in the Old Council Chambers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Holmes v. City of Atlanta, the 1955 Supreme Court case that struck down segregation on Atlanta’s public golf courses. The event celebrated the courage of Dr. Hamilton Holmes Sr., his sons Oliver and Alfred “Tup” Holmes, and family friend Charles Bell, whose quiet act of defiance helped pave the way for equity in public recreation across the South.
“Before there was Tiger Woods, there was Alfred ‘Tup’ Holmes,” said Mayor Dickens. “The Holmes family name is synonymous with excellence and determination. Every time we open a new park, rebuild a playground, or invest in a neighborhood, we carry forward the same spirit that drove Holmes v. City of Atlanta.”
The ceremony featured remarks from Parks and Recreation Commissioner Justin Cutler, Councilmembers Michael Julian Bond and Andrea Boone, and PGA professional Jeff Dunovant, Chairman of the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. Holmes’ grandson, Hamilton Holmes III, reflected on his family’s legacy of perseverance and equality.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in Holmes v. City of Atlanta ended racial segregation on municipally funded golf courses and affirmed that public recreation belongs to everyone. The decision became a cornerstone for broader desegregation efforts nationwide, demonstrating how local acts of justice can reverberate far beyond city limits.
In honor of the milestone, the Department of Parks and Recreation unveiled a new Alfred “Tup” Holmes logo to symbolize inclusion and progress in Atlanta’s public golf system.
“The principle that our public parks, playgrounds, and golf courses belong to all of us still stands strong in Atlanta,” Mayor Dickens said. “We are grateful for those who came before us and made sure that fairness was not just an ideal, but a reality.”
