Vernon Edgar Howard Explained

Ed Howard
State House1:Texas
District1:1st
Party:Democratic
Term Start1:January 14, 1969
Term End1:January 14, 1975
Predecessor1:Robert Wilton Bass
Successor1:Hamp Atkinson
State Senate2:Texas
District2:1st
Term Start2:January 9, 1979
Term End2:September 18, 1986
Predecessor2:A. M. Aikin Jr.
Successor2:Richard M. Anderson
Birth Date:April 13, 1937
Birth Place:Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
Spouse:Jo Ann Jay
Children:4
Parents:Verna Elisha Howard
Ruth Moryne Jackson

Vernon Edgar ("Ed") Howard was a Texan politician who served in the Texas House of Representatives for District 1 from 1969 to 1975 and the Texas Senate for District 1 from 1979 to 1986. He served in both positions as a representative of the Democratic Party.[1]

Early years and education

Howard was born on April 13, 1937, in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Verna Elisha Howard and Ruth Moryne (nee Jackson) and moved to Texas at a very early age. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1955, where he was a basketball star and involved in student government .[2] [3] He later attended Abilene Christian College and graduated in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He then continued his education at Southern Methodist University, where he received his master's degree in Political Science.

Politics

Nicknamed "Honest Ed," Howard served in both the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate.[4]

Texas House of Representatives

Howard served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1969 to 1975. While in office, he was selected "Who's Who in American Politics," "Who's Who in the South," and was instrumental in the passage of key legislation in education and city services that earned him the award "Outstanding Young Legislator."[5]

Texas Senate

After serving three terms in the Texas House, he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1978, where he served from 1979 to 1986.

Howard's major areas of concern were wiretapping, insurance, industrial revenue bonds, and revisions in the method of financing our colleges and universities. Living in Texarkana, with three states bordering his district, Howard was also interested in strengthening interstate compacts between Texas and neighboring legislatures.

He served as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Sunset Advisory Commission.[6] He served on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission and was twice selected a delegate to the Southern Regional Education Board.

In April 1985, he announced his resignation to become a lobbyist. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Committees[15]

Committee Chart!!!House!!!Senate
YearR.S.CommitteesYearR.S.Committees
196961stClaims

Elections

Governmental Affairs and Efficiency

Oil, Gas and Mining

State Contracting Procedures, Interim

Youth

197966thAdministration (Vice Chair)
  • Administration Subcommittee: Rules

Economic Development

State Affairs

  • State Affairs Subcommittee: Nominations
197162ndAdministration

Business and Marketing Affairs

Counties

Degree Plans

Highways and Roads

House Rules and Procedures

School Districts

Urban Affairs

198167thAdministration (Vice Chair)
  • Administration Subcommittee: Rules

Fees and Grants, Interim

Finance (Vice Chair)

Regional Intergovernmental Cooperation, Special

State Affairs

  • State Affairs Subcommittee: Nominations
197363rdEnvironmental Affairs
  • Environmental Affairs Subcommittee: State Parks

Human Resources

Revenue and Taxation

  • Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee: Exemptions
198368thCommittee of the Whole Senate
  • Committee of the Whole Senate Subcommittee: Finance

Economic Development

Finance (Vice Chair)

Regional Intergovernmental Cooperation, Special

State Affairs

  • State Affairs Subcommittee: Nominations
198569thAdministration, Special

Committee of the Whole Senate

Economic Development

Finance (Vice Chair)

Jurisprudence

Natural Resources

Nominations, Special (Chair)

Premium Tax Task Force

State Affairs

Family and personal life

He married Jo Ann Jay in 1960. He became very successful in the business world with his wife. [16] [17] They had four children: Eric, Jay, Lee, and Katie.[18] [19] [20]

An animal lover, Howard went hunting with a group of friends every year; however, his actual purpose was to fire off rounds but not hit the deer so as to make them wary during the hunting season; in ten years of such conservation-oriented hunting, he did not succeed in killing one animal and maintained a close bond of friendship with his hunting buddies who said that he "just can't hit the broadside of a barn."

Death

He died on July 2, 1998, at the age of 61 of throat cancer. He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery at Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA.[21] [22] He is survived by his wife, children, and ten grandchildren.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legislature Reference Library of Texas. www.lrl.state.tx.us. May 13, 2018.
  2. April 28, 1999 . In Memory of Ed Howard . 76th Legislature, R.S., HCR 126 . House Concurrent Resolution 126 . 1294–97.
  3. Web site: 1981 . Texas Senate Sketches and Biographies, 67th Legislature . Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  4. April 14, 1969 . Texas House Journal 61st Legislature . Journal of the Texas House of Representatives . 989–90.
  5. April 11, 1979 . Senate Resolution No. 407 . Texas Senate .
  6. Web site: Biographical sketches and biographies, Texas Senate, 68th Legislature, 1983 . Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  7. Web site: Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 66th Legislature, 1979. . May 21, 2018.
  8. Web site: Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 67th Legislature, 1981. . May 21, 2018.
  9. Web site: Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 68th Legislature, 1983. . May 21, 2018.
  10. Web site: Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 69th Legislature, 1985. . May 21, 2018.
  11. Web site: Senate Resolution. September 29, 1986. May 21, 2018.
  12. Web site: Senate Resolution. September 30, 1986. May 21, 2018.
  13. News: Graves . Debbie . 3 Apr 1986 . Sen. Howard Sets Resignation . Austin-American Statesman.
  14. News: 3 Apr 1986 . State Senator Resigns for Post as Lobbyist . Dallas Morning News.
  15. Web site: Legislative Reference Library Legislators and Leaders Member profile . 2022-12-01 . lrl.texas.gov.
  16. Web site: House Journal. April 14, 1969. May 21, 2018.
  17. Web site: Senate Resolution. April 13, 1983. May 21, 2018.
  18. Web site: Resolution. August 26, 1969. May 21, 2018.
  19. Web site: Resolution. 1974. May 21, 2018.
  20. Web site: Senate Resolution. April 11, 1979. May 21, 2018.
  21. Web site: Vernon Edgar Howard. www.cemetery.state.tx.us. May 21, 2018.
  22. Web site: In Memory of Ed Howard. April 28, 1999. May 21, 2018.