Ammo Maker: John Hollis

That love for machinery followed him into civilian life. After working in a body shop in Chicago, where he learned to paint cars from his father, John moved to Arkansas in 1974 and joined Remington.

He has been in Lonoke since.

“I told my wife I’d stay long enough to see whether I liked it,” he said. “I’m still here.”

For the past 30 years, John has worked on Rotary Cam machines, a specialized process originally developed by DuPont. He and his coworker, Chris, keep the cams running, troubleshooting everything from crooked bodies to smashed slugs.

“It’s not an easy job,” John admits, “but it’s busy, and time goes fast when you’re always working on something.”

John’s pride in his work is matched only by his pride in his coworkers. He speaks with deep respect for the people he has worked alongside, some for decades. He credits teamwork and communication as the keys to success.

“We don’t always agree,” he said, “but we talk it out. That makes all the difference.”

John credits much of his success and perseverance over the years to his biggest supporter – his wife, Brenda, to whom he has been married for 59 years. He says Brenda has been a steady force, helping him overcome challenges like shift changes and working nights, and encouraging him to keep going because she understands his deep love for the job.

Outside of work, John has a passion for cars. He has owned, painted and fixed up several cars and trucks in his life: a Camaro, a Mazda pickup, and a beloved 1959 Pontiac which he took special pride in, so much so that he calls it his “baby.”

John painted the car solid white with an accented red roof. The wheels matched the theme—white with a red fog effect painted onto them. He finished the look with Baby Moon hubcaps.

Though the exterior was show-ready, the interior was still stripped—no carpet, no seats, just bare metal. So, when asked to pull a float in a local parade, John didn’t hesitate. He improvised, perching on an empty five-gallon paint thinner can for the entire route.

Spectators saw a gleaming classic car gliding by, never suspecting its driver was balancing on a metal can held steady with ingenuity, a sense of humor and good posture.

“Nobody knew there was no interior,” he said with a laugh. “But that car stood out. I just loved driving that car. It was odd because it had dual exhaust, and it should have only had single. It had power brakes but no power steering.”

Aside from helping in his hometown parade, John has also lent his skills to the plant, painting and decaling equipment, and even helping makeshift a factory ambulance from an old van.

“We put in stretcher racks, painted it, and added a caution light,” he recalled. “It wasn’t fancy, but it got people to the hospital when they needed it.”

Despite a half a century of service, John still isn’t thinking about retirement.

“I live for each day,” he said. “As long as my health holds, I’m working. It brings me joy. I feel like I’ve accomplished something.”

And he has. John Hollis is a quiet legend who has shaped more than just ammunition. He reminds us that every day is a story of dedication, integrity and heart.