Some acts of history are worth more than a moment of remembrance — they deserve action. That belief inspired Daviess County resident Victor Hollowell to honor the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery March with a symbolic 54-mile walk completed right here in Owensboro.
The original march, a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, spanned from Selma to Alabama’s state capital. Organized to protest racial injustice and fight for the constitutional right to vote, the march helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It included three attempts, the first ending in violent beatings on “Bloody Sunday,” and the final march culminating with 25,000 people gathered at the steps of the Alabama State Capitol.
Hollowell and his wife Cathy Sue visited Selma in 2018, walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and exploring historic sites like Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church and the Selma Interpretive Center. They also followed the marchers’ route to Montgomery, stopping at the Lowndes Interpretive Center.
That experience stayed with him.
“I had a desire to walk the Selma to Montgomery route, as did the many back in 1965, but knew at the current time, that was not practical,” Hollowell said.
Instead, Hollowell decided to complete a symbolic version — walking 54 miles, the same distance as the original route, in Owensboro.
“Since retiring from the workforce in 2023, I’ve spent most of my weekdays and Saturdays exercising, including walking the Healthpark Track,” Hollowell said. “Owensboro resident David ‘Oz’ Osbourne, who sees me regularly at the HealthPark, calls me ‘walking man’ because of my dedication.”
But this symbolic walk wasn’t just about his own journey. Hollowell wanted to bring others into the fold. For his inaugural effort, he looked for someone to take on the challenge with him and offer feedback that could help turn the walk into a larger event in the future.
“And it was a no-brainer,” Hollowell said. “The best person to ask would be … Sarah Swift!”
He described Swift as “one of the most dedicated, most determined, and most disciplined people I had ever seen working their personal health routine. It is impressive, awe-inspiring, and unrivaled.”
Swift, a doctor of physical therapy at Owensboro Health HealthPark, lives in Owensboro with her husband Sam and their two children, Joanna and Nora. True to form, she accepted the challenge immediately.
On March 24, 2025, both Hollowell and Swift began logging miles.
Hollowell walked at both the HealthPark and Waymond Morris Park, where he completed the majority of his distance on the 1.5-mile oval track. Swift completed most of her miles at the HealthPark as part of her regular fitness routine, with a special evening walk that included her husband and kids — bringing her family into the mission.
Both completed their 54-mile goal on March 28.
They plan to do it again next year, and Hollowell hopes the symbolic walk becomes a community-wide tradition.
In preparation for 2026, Hollowell is seeking participants, sponsors, and volunteers to help organize the event. Goals include raising funds for T-shirts, certificates, prizes, advertising, and web promotion. There are also plans to form a dedicated Selma to Montgomery Symbolic March Committee to coordinate tasks and outreach.
Hollowell encourages anyone interested to reach out. For more information, he can be contacted at [email protected].
