Owen Holmes is one of the founders of the University of Lethbridge. He began his career as a research chemist at the University of Saskatchewan, making significant discoveries in electron spectroscopy. He was dean of the Academic Section of Lethbridge Junior College in 1967, when that part of the college became the nucleus of the newly established University of Lethbridge. He became the first dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science of the University of Lethbridge, and subsequently vice-president (academic), in which capacity he served for a decade.

As a university administrator Holmes was a strong advocate for the university’s founding principles of liberal education and a champion of academic freedom. His approach was not altogether popular at the time, but the university to this day brands itself as having a robust liberal education program.

The Captive University is an opinion piece submitted by Holmes to the Lethbridge Herald, which, as of February 1, 2018, has not published it.

Academic Freedom: Hoax or Hardhat is a letter submitted by Holmes to the Lethbridge Herald, which, as of February 1, 2018, has not published it.