James Monroe Howell Jr.

April 11, 1939 – April 1, 2026

James (Jim) M. Howell, Jr., beloved father, grandfather, educator, and trailblazing figure in American basketball, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, at Brooke Grove Retirement Village in Sandy Spring, Maryland. He was 86 years old. Known affectionately to family and friends as “Beannie,” Jim lived a life of extraordinary achievement, quiet dedication, and enduring impact.

Born on April 11, 1939, in Washington, D.C., Jim was the son of James M. Howell, Sr. and Evelyn Tillman Howell. He was raised in the nation’s capital, where his love of sports, learning, and community took root early. He attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Northeast Washington, where he distinguished himself as a standout athlete in both football and basketball. A First Team All-Met selection by the Washington Post in 1957 and an All-Catholic honoree in football, Jim was offered a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame — an offer he declined in favor of pursuing his passion for basketball at American University.

At American University, Jim was only the third African American to play basketball for the program and he made an immediate impression on his coaches and team members. In his freshman year, he scored 26 points in the Mason-Dixon Conference playoff victory over Loyola College of Baltimore. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962 and later his Master of Arts degree from George Washington University in 1973.

Following graduation, Jim channeled his passion for basketball into officiating. After six years working youth, junior high, and high school games, he broke into the college ranks in 1969 and earned his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) certification in 1970. Over a distinguished 27-year career as an NCAA referee, Jim became one of the most respected officials in the country, earning assignments in the Atlantic 10, Big East, Eastern College Athletic Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southeast, Southern, and Sunbelt conferences. He officiated four NCAA Final Fours — in 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1982 — and was selected to referee the NCAA Championship game in both 1973 and 1974. In doing so Jim made history in 1973 by becoming the first African American to referee an NCAA men’s basketball championship game, overseeing the legendary UCLA versus Memphis State title contest. Despite receiving a prestigious offer from the National Basketball Association (NBA) that same year, Jim chose to remain true to a deeper calling: the education and mentorship of young people.

Over a 31-year career with the District of Columbia Public Schools — including 14 years as the principal of Taft Junior High School — Jim made a lasting difference in the lives of thousands of students. His commitment to young people extended well beyond the classroom and collegiate basketball. He served as president of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Board 12 and as Supervisor of Officials for the James Jabbo Kenner Collegiate Summer League. He officiated in the Pan-American Games in Puerto Rico and served as an official for the Special Olympics. He was a clinician for the annual MEAC Clinic and a member of the U.S. Basketball Delegations to Cuba in 1978 and to the People’s Republic of China in 1974, and conducted basketball clinics in Thailand and Taiwan.

In retirement, Jim remained as active and engaged as ever, guided by his love of community and his giving spirit. He volunteered with several basketball associations and camps throughout the country, sharing decades of knowledge with the next generation of players and officials. He also gave his time as a lunchroom volunteer at the St. Louis Catholic School, where he delighted in spending time with his grandsons, while also working part time at the bowling alley on the campus of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Jim devoted himself deeply to his parish family at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Silver Spring, serving in multiple leadership and support roles within the congregation where he was a faithful and active member until his health prevented him from doing so. In every endeavor, Jim showed up fully — unhurried, warm, and of service.

Jim’s legacy has been formally recognized with inductions into the Archbishop Carroll Athletic Hall of Fame (2008), the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Hall of Fame (2019), and the Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame (2025).

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene Lucy Davis Howell and his sister, Marie Celine Howell Marshall. He is survived by his sons, Dr. James M. Howell, III (Dr. Ingrid Beard-Howell) and Dr. Keith A. Howell; his grandsons, Aaron and Donavan; and a cherished circle of nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

James M. Howell, Jr. was a pioneer, a mentor, and a man of unshakeable integrity. He broke barriers not for recognition, but because he loved the game, loved learning and loved people. His life was a testament to excellence in service — and his legacy will endure in every student he guided, every official he mentored and on every court upon which he stood.

Rest in Peace.