Arvel Holmes was born June 15, 1921 in Cullman County, Alabama. After his family moved to Attalla, he left high school at Etowah to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. Holmes returned to Etowah and received his high school diploma at the age of 21.

He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, a master of science degree from George Peabody College and a master of arts degree from Georgia Southern College.

His first head coaching job came at Oneonta in 1950 where he was the head football coach for two seasons. In 1952, Holmes moved to Atmore for the head football coaching position at Escambia County High School.

Coach Holmes left Escambia County following the 1961 football season to accept the head coaching job at Savannah High school in Georgia. He would return to Alabama after eleven seasons at the helm in Savannah. Holmes came back to Alabama in 1974 as the head football coach at Southside High School in Gadsden for two seasons.

In 1976, Holmes retired from the Alabama schools system and moved to Georgia where his career continued. He served as the head football coach at Rabun County (1976-82) and Towns County (1983-84) before retiring from the sidelines.

Coach spent the next 34 years teaching and coaching high school football in Alabama and Georgia. During his coaching career, he amassed a record of 209 wins, 130 losses and 24 ties. His teams also enjoyed five undefeated seasons during his tenure.

He was five-time Coach of the Year and a three-time Coaches Association president.

Coach Holmes retired in 1984 from Rabun County High School and spent his remaining years working at Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Clayton, Ga. He returned home to Glencoe in 2007 and passed away July 1, 2008.