LUBBOCK, Texas — In the Heart of Lubbock stands O.D. Hollins Park, a testament to the legacy of a man whose life represented faith, community and service.
Named in honor of Reverend O.D. Hollins, the park at 1st Street and Vernon Avenue has a rich history, according to a social media post by Historic Lubbock County.
Hollins was born in Gilmer, Texas in 1905 and later married his wife Orphis Williams with whom he started Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Tahoka. The couple made their way to Lubbock, and Rev. Hollins left an indellible mark on the city with his significant role in the founding of Lyons Chapel Baptist Church in 1946.
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The reverend had the support of Dr. C.H. Lyons, Lubbock’s first Black dentist, who donated land and $850 to erect the small church building at Locust Avenue in the Queen City neighborhood.
In 1961, the congregation moved to a new building at 24th St and MLK Blvd as part of the Urban Renewal Relocation Project. An early education building was added 4 years later.