CLEVELAND — The town of Cleveland officially has a full commission for the first time in nearly a year. 

Wilson Holloway was sworn in at Town Hall during a special-called meeting on Thursday night to fill the seat vacated when former Commissioner Richard Taylor resigned late last year. 

The appointment came a little more than two months after Jeanette Rankin was elected to fill the seat vacated by former Commissioner Danny Gabriel who died in April of 2023.

With his wife, Casey, by his side, Holloway took the oath of office, which was administered by Town Clerk Kelly Rodgers.

Holloway is a probation parole officer for the state. 

Originally from Woodleaf, he and his family recently moved to Cleveland.

“I’ve been around Cleveland basically my whole life,” Holloway said. “I went to West Rowan and graduated from there.”

After high school, Holloway attended East Carolina University, where he studied criminal justice. 

Holloway indicated that he sees a lot of promise in Cleveland and wants to be a part of its future success.

“I know that Cleveland is heading in the right direction,” Holloway said. “I have seen a lot of progress here the last few years and I like the way it’s going. That is why me and my family moved to the middle of town. I just want to help anyway I can and help it grow.”

Cleveland commissioners are assigned various agencies and departments around town to monitor and supervise. Holloway was tasked with overseeing the police and fire departments. 

“You might say I know a little bit about law enforcement,” Holloway said of his professional background. 

Attending the special-called meeting at Town Hall was Holloway’s wife, his two children, Rosalie and Weston, and his parents, Kent and Sara Holloway. 

Mayor Pro Tem Travis Summitt nominated Holloway for the seat. After the meeting he said a few things about Holloway appealed to him.

“He (represents) some younger blood that is very interested in helping the town out,” Summit said. “He started coming around about two or three years ago, when he first moved to Cleveland and I got to know him just through different people around town. He would come to events and seemed interested in things. 

“He would come to ask about how he could help, and I said, ‘right here is one way.’”