Prior to joining the fire service, Chief Hollis served four years in the Navy and worked for the San Diego Police Department. He began his fire service career with the National City Fire Department in 1971, achieving the rank of Battalion Chief in 2004. Chief Hollis received the highest decoration ever earned by a National City firefighter, the Medal of Valor, for saving another firefighter that was engulfed in flames. In 2012, Chief Hollis was diagnosed with job-related brain cancer and succumbed later that year.