[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 61 (Friday, April 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING COLONEL JOHN L. HOWLETT

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize a 
man who lived a life of honor, serving his country, his community and 
his family. John Leo Francis Howlett, Ph.D., U.S. Army, retired, served 
our country in the Army for 30 years and retired at the rank of 
colonel. Dr. Howlett served in Vietnam and then in the Army Officers 
Reserves. Upon completion of his Active Duty time, Dr. Howlett obtained 
his Ph.D. in education and became involved in his community through 
teaching at the college level, first in Michigan and Wisconsin, and 
then Washington State, Oregon, and Minnesota. He returned to Spokane, 
WA, where he finished out his teaching career and retired in 1999.
  While vocation tends to determine our geography, our lives are 
defined by our character. Dr. Howlett was a man of strong faith, high 
integrity, commitment to challenges, and a true family man. It is said 
that he never missed a game, meet, tournament or even practice in the 
sports lives of his five children. He taught his children to respect 
our tremendous natural resources and imparted his love of hunting, 
fishing, sailing, and camping to them. The example he set--high 
achievement, attaining goals, and excellence--lives on in the lives of 
his children, all high achievers and highly educated in their own 
right.
  John managed to fight the cancer that took his life for 5 years, and 
passed on July 4, 2005. His son, Mark, described his father thus: ``In 
today's world this is what America needs, a hard working patriot that 
believed in family, his country, and bettering the children of 
tomorrow. He was one of a kind, a family man, outdoorsman, husband, 
father, brother, son, teacher, coach, Catholic and most importantly my 
best friend!''
  I am honored to reflect on this life well-lived.

                          ____________________