[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21907]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF WOODROW WILSON HOWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Woodrow Wilson Howard died 
October 10, 2006, at his home. He was 94 years old. He was born in 
Catawba County, North Carolina, to the late Cleveland Franklin and 
Antha Leona Sigmon Howard.
  Mr. Howard began his retail career in 1934 with Belk Department Store 
and, in 1938 with Belk as partner, he founded Howard's, located on 
Assembly Street in Columbia. He stayed with Belk for 64 years. He moved 
the Assembly Street store to Parkland Plaza in Cayce in 1977. 
Ultimately, the Howard's doubled in size and expanded to include 
Howard's Sports. Mr. Howard retired from Belk in 1998. Over the years 
he sold everything from basic work clothes to high fashion trends. He 
claimed he never took a coffee break.
  Mr. Howard was a vital member of the community. He had been a member 
of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church for 66 years. He was a charter member and 
past president of Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club and was named the 
World Champion Broom Salesman by the national Lions Club in 1976. He 
served on the Advisory Board and was an original stockholder of 
Lexington State Bank (now BB&T), served on the Board of Directors of 
the West Columbia-Cayce Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the 
Central Midlands Regional Planning Council and its Committee of 100, 
served on the Board of Directors for the Lowman Home, was a lifetime 
member of Sinclair Lodge No. 154 and was named ``Citizen of the Year'' 
by the City of West Columbia in 1985.
  Mr. Howard was elected to West Columbia City Council in 1961 and 
served for 30 years. He acted as Mayor Pro Tem for 28 years. While 
campaigning, his slogan for re-election was ``If you don't know me ask 
your neighbor.'' He was honored with the Order of the Palmetto in 1998.
  Mr. Howard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth G. ``Lib'' 
Howard; his son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Mary Howard of 
Lexington, his son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Gloria Howard, also 
of Lexington, and his daughter and son-in-law, Marianne and Larry Yoder 
of Newton, North Carolina. He is also survived by his grandchildren, GG 
Howard and Robert Culpepper of Atlanta, Georgia, Chip Howard of 
Lexington, Melissa and Jim Henshaw of Isle of Palms, Shannon and Bert 
Pooser of Columbia, Amy and Jason London of West Columbia, Michael 
Howard of Columbia, Nathan Yoder of Regensburg, Germany, Joshua Yoder 
of Hickory, North Carolina, and David and Krissy Yoder of Pinehurst, 
North Carolina; as well as his great-grandchildren: Cate Simmons, Jerod 
and Lucy Culpepper, Bane London, Sam Henshaw and Maddox Pooser. Mr. 
Howard was predeceased by his brothers, Harry, Ray, and Franklin Howard 
and his sister, Alice Howard Cooper.
  At the funeral services on October 13, 2006; a eulogy was lovingly 
delivered by his granddaughter GG Howard which highlighted his many 
achievements.

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