Walter C. Holmes was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in LaPlace, St. John the Baptist Parish. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University and his doctorate from Mississippi State University, both in botany. After receiving his Bachelor’s, he served in the United States Naval Air Force as a pilot. He served in Fleet Composite Squadron Eight for the U.S. Naval Station in Puerto Rico, and was a Pilot in Patrol in Squadron Ninety-Four, Naval Air Station in New Orleans. Dr. Holmes was honorably released from commission in 1984, attaining rank of Lieutenant.

Dr. Holmes began his teaching career as Professor of Biology and Curator of the Herbarium at Northwestern State University from 1975-1989. He then moved to Baylor University, where he was Professor of Biology and Director of the Herbarium. He taught at Baylor until his retirement in 2018. He published more than 200 professional publications in his career and received numerous honors. These honors include a Senior Research Fellowship from the Smithsonian Institute and the Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award for scientific writing in the field of native flora of Texas from the Native Plant Society of Texas. He retired and lived with his wife in Waco, TX, until his passing in 2023. His interests included gardening, wildlife observation, and Cajun and Creole Cooking.