Harold Carter Howard

Harold Carter “Carter” Howard passed peacefully at the age of 94 surrounded by family on October 13, 2023 at the Holly Hall Retirement Community in Houston, Texas. His family deeply mourns his loss, but also celebrates the fullness of his life on earth and take comfort in knowing he is at home with the Lord.

Carter was born in Rusk Texas on August 12, 1929 to Harold Lyle Howard and Daisy Fitts Howard. A short time later his family moved to Robstown Texas where his father worked as a machinist at Howard’s Machine shop. When the war broke out in 1941, the family moved a short distance to Corpus Christi where they lived on the naval base where his father, who was a skilled craftsman, supported the war effort machining aircraft and specialty parts for the Navy. As a boy, Carter had a paper route on the base to help support the family budget. He attended Sun Deen High School in Corpus and was the starting quarterback and punter and graduated as the valedictorian of his class at the age of 16. He then attended The University of Texas where he worked multiple jobs to pay his way through school. He lived at, and was a member of, the Oak Grove Co-Op House where he excelled in academics and intermural sports. His many team photos for championships in football, track and basketball still hang in the basement of Gregory Gym. After his first year at UT, he undertook a Spanish language intensive program in Mexico City, and lived at a boarding house where he turned 17. To get back to Austin for the fall semester, he sold his blood to pay for the bus fare back and continued his studies. He also enlisted in the US Army Reserves to make extra money and to serve his country. He was tapped into the Silver Spurs, an honorary campus service organization, and became one of the members assigned to care of, and handle Bevo, the Longhorn mascot. He graduated with a BA in Plan II, and an MA in Latin American Trade by the time he was 20 and went right into law school at UT, but was called to active duty during the Korean War where he served his time stateside training troops. After the war and being discharged, he hitchhiked back to Austin and resumed law school and once again worked multiple jobs, studied, and played intermural sports. However, he then met Barbara Wright, a young co-ed from San Antonio, on a blind date and a romance ensured. They had a lot in common and carefully planned a future together on September 4, 1954.

After passing the Texas bar and graduating from law school in August of 1955, he took a job in an oil and gas firm in Edinburg, Texas where he worked for the next 12 years researching land titles, negotiating leases, and writing title, division order and drill site opinions throughout South Texas. He thoroughly enjoyed the culture and rich history of the Rio Grande Valley. Many of his opinions are still used to this day. He was fluent in Spanish, which helped him flourish in his law practice since Spanish was so common in the region. He was an active member of the local Methodist Church, was the President of the local Kiwanis Club and a liaison to the local high school Key Club. He became an avid hunter and golfer during these years. All three of the Howard children were born in Edinburg. In 1967, seeking more opportunity and better schools for their young children he took an in-house position in the legal department of the Columbia Gulf Transmission Company and he and Barbara moved the family to Houston, where they lived for over 40 years on little cul-de-sac named Barracuda Court. In the late 80’s he was promoted to senior VP with the parent company Columbia Gas Transmission Company and managed the Houston office and operations in multiple states. He continued to play golf as a serious hobby and since his job required some level of travel and customer entertainment his golf skills came in handy and he hosted annual golf tournaments for energy industry executives in Houston. He also enjoyed bird hunting and wade fishing throughout coastal Texas and Louisiana, and he landed many Bull Reds singlehandedly in the surf in Galveston. He and Barbara followed the news carefully staying up with current events and politics. They were Republicans when there were very few in Houston. Carter chaired the local Republican precinct and they volunteered and worked hard to support the Harris County GOP. He and Barbara were passionate Texas Longhorns supporters through the years. They also enjoyed a bridge club, taking trips to visit relatives, hosting family events, and a lot of yard sitting in their peaceful side yard with many pine trees. Their neighbors were like family and spontaneous gatherings were frequent and full of joy and great memories.

Carter retired from The Columbia Gas System in 1992, but continued his fishing, hunting and also his golf pursuits mostly at Braeburn Country Club, not to mention the advent of many grandchildren. Tragedy struck in 1997 when daughter Susan Howard Shows died at the age of only 40 after a long and fierce battle with cancer. There were some tough years after this unexpected loss as she was the apple of his eye being the eldest child and only girl. They did the best they could to reconcile her loss and picked up life again with grandkid pursuits and an ever-closer family.

After some health issues for Barbara in 2014, they moved to Holly Hall Retirement Community, which was a true blessing. After Barbara went on to be with the Lord in 2014, it was another hard adjustment for Carter after 59 years of marriage. However, with help from his friends there he eventually took up more social activities at Holly Hall, including working at the wood shop at St. Lukes, working in the library, helping out with the church services, attending bible studies, and learning about plants in the nursery. His many friendships and bonds developed at Holly Hall with both residents and staff were the highlight of his life well lived to the end. He loved to remark that they all took care of each other and he wanted to do his part.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife of 59 years, Barbara Ann Wright Howard, and daughter Susan Howard Shows. He is survived by sons Steven C. Howard and his wife Patricia Brock Howard and grandchildren Thomas Howard, Holly Howard, and Katie Howard Williamson and her husband Ragland T. Williamson, and great grandchildren Anna Williamson and Eleanor Williamson; and son John W. Howard and his wife Sandra G. Howard and grandchildren Jordan and Peyton Howard.

A memorial for Carter is scheduled for November 21, 2023 at Holly Hall Christian Retirement Community Chapel located at 2000 Holly Hall in Houston Texas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Howard family.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed toward the Susan Claire Howard Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship, or the Oak Grove Cooperative Undergraduate Scholarship both at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, or Holly Hall Retirement Community, which is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.