Hollis Lewis grew up in Charleston, West Virginia, the son of the late Hollis Sr. and Juana Turner. Raised primarily on Charleston's Westside, he attended George Washington High School before pursuing higher education at West Virginia State University, where he played football under Coach Carl Lee and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He continued his education at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he obtained his law degree.
Upon graduating from law school, Hollis returned to Charleston and has held several distinguished positions, including Federal clerk, member of the West Virginia Parole Board, and Kanawha County Magistrate Judge. He was the second Black American to hold the position of Magistrate in Kanawha County.
Currently, Hollis serves as the West Virginia Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) Project Director for First Choice Services. In this capacity, he works with law enforcement and first responders across the state to develop better responses to persons in crisis. Additionally, Hollis is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates representing the 57th district. He was appointed to the House in 2023 and subsequently elected in the 2024 election.
Hollis has served as the minority chair of the Jails and Prisons Committee and minority co-chair of the Government Organization Committee. He also serves on the Agriculture, Commerce & Tourism; Health & Human Resources; Health Care Regulation; and Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. Hollis is the first Black American to represent the 57th District in the West Virginia legislature. Hollis has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at both West Virginia State University and the University of Charleston. In addition to his professional roles, he sits on several boards, including serving as a Commissioner at Charleston Urban Renewal Association (CURA), the Clay Center, and the Charleston NAACP. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. Hollis is an accomplished speaker and writer, having published several articles in various publications.
Hollis is married to Dr. Elisha Lewis, former Chair of the Education Department at West Virginia State University. They have four daughters: Kayla, Kaizen, Halina, and Zuri.