William Kenneth Holditch (1933–2022) was a Rhodes College alumnus and leading scholar of American playwright Tennessee Williams. A Professor Emeritus of English at the University of New Orleans, Holditch dedicated his career to the study of Southern literature, leaving an lasting mark on the field through his research and literary preservation efforts.
Holditch began his academic career at Christian Brothers College in Memphis before joining the University of New Orleans, where he taught from 1964 until his retirement in 1993. His scholarship extended beyond the classroom, co-founding the Tennessee Williams Literary Festivals in New Orleans, Columbus, and Clarksdale, as well as serving on the advisory board for the festival in Provincetown. He was also instrumental in creating the Literary Walking Tour of the French Quarter.
As an author and editor, Holditch co-edited Tennessee Williams Plays 1937–1955 for the Library of America and co-authored Tennessee Williams and the South and The World of Tennessee Williams. His play, Tennessee Williams and His Women, was performed at Lincoln Center in New York. In addition, he served as editor of the Tennessee Williams Literary Journal.