Junior Timothy Holloway is a blacksmith, and has been practicing blacksmithing at home, in St. Louis, Missouri, since age 12.
Timothy’s older brother, Trevor Holloway, first mentioned the idea of being a blacksmith and making weaponry to him. Creating metal objects was fascinating to Timothy, and throughout his childhood, he became more and more interested in the idea. Eventually, Timothy got a forge for his 12th birthday.
“I just thought, swords, arrows, fun,” Timothy said. “I just thought that was the coolest thing ever.”
A blacksmith produces items made from metal, using a forge, which is a hot furnace essential to successfully producing items through heating and hammering. The technical process includes heating the steel, continuously hammering the piece and pressing the steel into the desired shape.
Timothy mostly practices blacksmithing in St. Louis. He typically creates such items as small knives, pocket knives, fixed blade knives, door handles and more for fun. He gives some of his creations to friends or keeps them for his own use. Timothy said he has made approximately 200 items since he began the craft.
Timothy began to use his interest in blacksmithing as an outreach ministry for people in his hometown. Anyone interested joins him and they have created a group of people that have a great time practicing blacksmithing together.
Senior Tanner Holloway, another older brother, has watched Timothy practice hishobby of blacksmithing for as long as he can remember and admires his passion to become better.
“He is very driven and very ambitious,” Tanner said. “He wants to be better, do the best work that he can and just loves putting everything into it to make the best product possible.”
Tanner has participated in blacksmithing with his brother and shares the interest.Tanner said he admires how his brother has reached many people through blacksmithing.
“It is very cool that Timothy was able to do this — seek out a dream and make it happen,” Tanner said.
Dr. Shawn Fisher, associate professor of history, has forged metal with Timothy at his property near campus. Fisher mentioned in class that he is a blacksmith, and Timothy told Fisher he was also. Fisher invited Holloway to his property to practice the craft and was inspired by Timothy to start a Facebook group to connect students on campus interested in blacksmithing.
“Timothy used blacksmithing as an outreach, and I thought that was a great idea,” Fisher said. “Because of Timothy’s suggestion, I started a [Facebook] group like that on campus.”
Although the group has not been actively meeting up since Timothy’s freshman year, he said it was good to connect with others who shared his interest.
“If there is something that interests you and you want to do it, do what you can, and give it a try,” Timothy said. “You probably won’t regret it.”