Oliver Wendell Howard

(August 17, 1917 ~ December 15, 2003)

Oliver Wendell Howard, son of John Edward Howard and Harriett Seleta Swindle, married to Cleo Verle Reddell and buried in Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas.

Former Abilene Mayor Oliver Howard, who died Monday at his home in Richardson, was hailed by friends as a leader in business and banking, local government, military affairs, and good works.

He was 86.

During his long career in Abilene's public life, Howard received many honors for his leadership and volunteer contributions.

A longtime member of the Hendrick Medical Center - now Hendrick Health System - board, he was twice chairman (1968-71 and 1975-79).

The Collins and Parker wings of the hospital were built under Howard's leadership, said Hendrick CEO Mike Waters.

"Oliver believed in growth. He didn't like to sit still," Waters said. "He was just an impressive man - very kind, very gentle, but very firm."

Hendrick's flag will fly at half-staff until Friday afternoon in honor of Howard, Waters said.

Howard headed the board of Hendrick Home for Children for 17 years, and was chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce for 18 years. In that position, he was credited with helping create a base-city relationship that set the national standard.

Claude Hicks, longtime president of Hendrick Home, now retired, said Howard was a leader capable of anticipating needed changes. During Howard's chairmanship, Hendrick started a foster-care program to serve children who were not residents of the children's home, he said.

"If I was concerned about anything, I could always go talk to Oliver," he said.

Mayor Grady Barr said Howard was his mentor, encouraging his first mayoral run, in 1999.

"Just do your homework, know where you're coming from, and be straightforward," was Howard's advice to Barr, he said.

Howard and his wife, Cleo, moved to suburban Dallas, in 1993.

Howard was born in Hardeman County on Aug. 17, 1917. He started his banking career at First State Bank of Tuscola in 1936. Except for a few months with First State Bank of Aspermont in 1937-38, Howard spent his entire banking career in Taylor County.

He joined what was then Citizens National Bank in 1938, and worked in all departments of the bank as he steadily rose to the top position. He was named president of the bank on June 1, 1960. He held the post until Jan. 1, 1978. He also began a stint as chairman of the board at Citizens in 1973.

He was elected mayor in 1978, serving a single three-year term.

Services are 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, with Claude Hicks giving the eulogy, with burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Oliver Jr., of Wylie near Dallas; one brother, J.E. "Cotton" Howard of Blackwell; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Another son, Donald Allen Howard, preceded him in death in 1990. Contact staff writer Jerry Reed at 676-6769 or reedj@reporternews.com.

Abilene Reporter-News (TX) - December 17, 2003