H.B. Howard

H.B. “Ace” Howard Jr. Retired Lt. Col. H.B. “Ace” Howard Jr., 84, passed away Thursday, April 29, 2004. Howard proudly served his country in three wars, flying fighters and bombers over Europe in World War II and in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He also flew B-52s for the Strategic Air Command. The son of Herbert Bryan Howard Sr. and Rosalie Benson Howard was born in Austin on May 16, 1919, and graduated from Austin High School. He married Marie Johnson Howard in 1937 and was studying at the University of Texas and working at the Austin American-Statesman when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Howard enlisted in the defense of his country and began a distinguished 30-year military career. Howard met his childhood sweetheart and the love of his life at Deep Eddy swimming pool where he and Marie were members of the “River Rats.” Both enjoyed water sports and won many area and state swimming and diving medals. Marie followed Howard to his military assignments around the continental United States and raised their two children, Herbert Bryan Howard III and April Howard Thomason. Howard did not like to talk about his wartime experiences, but he did admit to being relieved at completing his daylight bombing missions over Europe and eager to accept a new assignment as a fighter pilot. That might explain one of his family’s favorite stories about the time he flew a P-51 Mustang through the base of the Eiffel Tower. Howard also spoke longingly of the early days of aviation when he was able to fly down into the Grand Canyon during training missions. For a brief time, he held the trans-Atlantic speed record, thanks in part, he said, to a strong jet stream. He completed his college degree while in the Air Force and earned specialty degrees in engineering and physics. Howard, who carried his stereotyper’s union card throughout his military career, resumed work at the American-Statesman after his retirement from the Air Force. Howard’s nickname of “Ace” also was appropriate for the other passion of his life, golf. He scored several holes in one during his life, and shot his age a number of times in his later years at the Bergstrom AFB golf course, where he enjoyed the company of a regular group of similarly avid golfers. Howard was preceded in death by his wife and son. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, April and Craig Thomason of San Antonio. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. Open visitation is at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd.