Buddy Holt is a longtime Greenville resident whose professional life reflects both entrepreneurial drive and a deep commitment to community service, including work with the Pitt Community College Foundation Board and its Scholarship Committee.
A 1971 graduate of J.H. Rose High School, Holt completed the Dealership Management Development program at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1976. He went on to build a diverse career spanning automotive sales and management, small business ownership, nonprofit leadership, and real estate before officially retiring. Along the way, his work took him from family-owned dealerships and Midas franchises to serving as executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County.
Family and education are central to Holt’s story. Married to the former Polly Mason of Roanoke, Virginia, he is the father of three grown children — Taylor, Gray and Chesson — two of whom (Taylor and Chesson) began their college journeys at PCC before completing degrees at East Carolina University.
In this month’s edition of “Foundation for Success,” the PCC Foundation sat down with Holt to learn more about him personally and why he’s gone to great lengths to help raise funding for PCC student scholarships over the past decade.
Q: Hometown/Residence?
A: I was born in Greensboro, NC and have resided in Greenville, NC since 1968.
Q: Tell us a little more about your occupation and educational background …
A: • Attended East Carolina University from 1971-1973 and 1988-1990.
• Became an equity partner and general manager of the family Oldsmobile/Nissan dealership in Greenville in 1979 and served in that capacity until the sale of the business in 1987.
• Owned & operated the Midas Auto Service Experts franchises in Greenville and Rocky Mount from 1987-2011.
• Served as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County from 2007-2010.
• Licensed NC Real Estate Broker at Kittrell & Armstrong, LLC in Greenville from 2012-2017.
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies (maybe talk about your car collection and using your interest in cars to help the PCC Foundation to raise funds through an Accelerating the Future event here)?
A: I was first drawn into the PCC Foundation in the Spring of 2016, when I was asked by the Special Events Committee for my assistance in developing a Spring Event called “Accelerating the Future.” This fundraising event was to showcase the Automotive School’s staff and state-of-the-art equipment for training future automobile technicians.
As a classic car collector, I was asked to issue invitations to fellow collectors to display their vehicles, along with several of mine, for the event. It was a huge success, and I have been involved with PCC ever since.
Today, I continue to enjoy a rather eclectic collection of 32 classic and muscle cars that I have assembled over the past 40 years and have offered a “tour” of my collection as an auction item in past PCC fundraising events and hope to continue to do so.
Q: What is one thing most people wouldn’t know about you but would find interesting?
A: I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1964 at the age of 13. Over the past 60 years, in certain situations I have always called upon this when faced with difficulties, almost like using a “MacGyver” mentality and reminding myself that I am an Eagle Scout and can work through this.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received and why?
A: In April of 1971, while a senior in high school, my future mother-in-law led me into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My faith journey since then has shaped the man I am today (it’s been a little rocky at times) as a father, husband, business owner and ambassador for His teachings for the past 55 years. I give Him all the glory!
Q: In your words, what is the PCC Foundation’s purpose?
A: The Foundation’s purpose is to assist students with funding for an associate degree that may not otherwise be financially attainable. This funding is available through fundraising events by the Foundation, scholarships, endowed gifts and a well-managed investment portfolio.
Q: Why do you support PCC with your financial gifts and serve on the Foundation Board?
A: My wife and I only support ministries and organizations that produce tangible, verifiable results through their work. As the father of two PCC alumni, I can attest to their successes by attending PCC first before transferring to a university to obtain a degree. I feel very strongly that the educational journey of an 18-year-old high school graduate should begin at the community college level and further develop through a university experience, if so desired.
Q: Why was it important for you and your wife, Polly, to start the Buddy & Polly Holt Automotive Scholarship?
A: I spent my entire professional career in the automotive field where there was a never-ending need for qualified technicians and still is today. The days of do-it-yourself automobile repairs are long over. PCC has arguably one of the best managed and well-funded state-of-the-art facilities in North Carolina. We wanted to do our part to ensure that the opportunity to learn this business continued well into the future in eastern North Carolina.