October 24, 2024 – Clay Hollis is a Texas-native, born in the Rio Grande Valley and raised in San Antonio. He’s also only one remove away from being a native Parisian, as the grandson of the late H.L. “Hub” Hollis. Last spring, Hollis came by to visit the Paris Junior College Hub Hollis baseball field and Saturday, Nov. 2, he’ll perform at the Love Civic Center as part of PJC’s 100th Homecoming weekend.
Growing up in Texas, Clay began pursuing music at a young age. At just seventeen, Hollis hit the road, selling merchandise for Jon Wolfe. While on tour with the Texas-country star, Clay discovered a career in music, and touring was his passion. He soon left Wolfe’s team to begin his own journey.
In 2017, Clay Hollis released his self-titled debut EP. With help from Nashville hit writers, like Bart Butler and Jon Pardi, Clay found radio success with four top ten singles: Look Who’s Hurting Now, Hard Headed Heart, Can’t Let a Good Thing Get Away, and Strait to Jones. With a few radio singles and an old guitar, Hollis hit the road to play honky-tonks across Texas.
In 2020, Clay released Honkytonk Highway, a strong 6-track EP that highlights his rich vocals and appreciation for honky-tonk driven guitars. At 21-minutes in length, Hollis covers a lot of territory. The EP includes slow burners like “Ask Me Again” to upbeat tracks like “Here I Go Again.” Inspired by ‘90s country foundations, with a modern country sound.
His newest effort, No Apologies, is Clay’s first full-length album. The 11-song collection, eight of which co-written by Hollis, centers around Clay’s personal life story, with each track giving you a glimpse into who Clay Hollis is.
Over the years, Hollis has been captivating fans playing alongside country music mainstays, Randall King, Kevin Fowler and many more.
In the spring of 2023, Hollis and his family stopped to visit PJC’s Hub Hollis baseball field and he joined that year’s baseball players on the field to throw some balls. In addition to the 100th Anniversary for Paris Junior College, this is the 50th Anniversary of the Hub Hollis Baseball Field, making the concert doubly special.
Hub Hollis was PJC’s first Athletic Director and Head Football Coach in 1925. He was inducted into the Dragon Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Dragons are honored that the baseball complex bears his name.
The concert will start at 8:30 p.m. at the Love Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 2. Tickets are $10 at the door. Those with a current PJC ID will get in free.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
