[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                      IN HONOR OF BLACKIE HOWLETT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2002

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
Blackie Howlett, United States Veteran, pilot, devoted husband, father 
and grandfather, and dear friend to many.
  Mr. Howlett was born Jack J. Howlett Il eighty-two years ago in his 
parents' home on Cleveland's Westside. After attending John Marshall 
High School, he attended Baldwin-Wallace College. During the 1930's, 
Howlett learned to fly open-cockpit planes here in Cleveland, from the 
Cosby Brothers, who were local stunt pilots.
  Mr. Howlett was an expert aviator, and utilized his skills and 
knowledge for the protection and service of the United States. As a 
U.S. Marine, Mr. Howlett was part of the military crew that helped to 
build an airport in Kinston, NC. During that time, renown pilot Charles 
Lindbergh visited the base to train pilots. Mr. Howlett was one of 
Lindberg's students. Toward the end of WWII, he was stationed on Wake 
Island in the Pacific, as a Commanding Officer of the Marine 
detachment. Mr. Howlett accepted the surrender of Japanese troops on 
Wake Island. Later, he remained in the service and was in command of an 
airport at Osaka, Japan. Several years after WWII, Mr. Howlett left the 
military, and had achieved the status of Major.
  After his military tenure, Mr. Howlett joined Irving Cloud 
Publishing, where he founded Aviation Equipment and Maintenance 
Magazine. Later, he founded Howlett and Associates, a consultancy 
company, for aviation publications located around the globe. Mr. 
Howlett maintained his involvement and participation in aviation 
throughout his life. During his senior years, he founded the local 
chapter of the Silver Wings Fraternity, an organization comprised of 
senior pilots.
  In addition to his passion for flying through the air, Mr. Howlett 
had a life-long interest in flying across the ice. He was an active 
speed skater in his youth, and was an original member of the Lake Erie 
Speed Skating Association. He also helped organize the United States 
Luge program, and was a team manager for the United States Luge Team in 
the Olympics. In 1989, Mr. Howlett was inducted into the Cleveland 
Sports Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Howlett's beloved wife, Dorothea, passed away in 2000. He was the 
beloved father of Jeffrey, Carrie and Jennifer, and one grandchild.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Blackie Howlett was an extraordinary pilot, 
accomplished businessman, dedicated citizen, and devoted family man. 
Mr. Blackie Howlett will be greatly missed by all who knew him well, 
yet his legacy of living life to its absolute fullest--a man who dared 
to soar where sunlight settles on the highest cloud, a man whose energy 
and spark belied a gentle nature--will live on for generations to come.

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