2014 -- H 7945

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LC005207

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOHN I. HOWELL, SR.

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Bennett, Trillo, Naughton, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of John I.

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Howell, Sr., beloved husband of sixty-one years to the late Nelda Audibert Howell, loving father

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of John Howell and his wife, Carol, and Claire Blatchford and her husband, Edward, grandfather

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of Diana O'Brien, John Howell, III, Theodore Howell, Laurel Blatchford, and Christa Blatchford,

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and eight beautiful great grandchildren. For the past decade, Mr. Howell had been devoted to

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Marge Boger, his friend, his companion, and quite literally, his lifesaver; and

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     WHEREAS, The youngest of three sons born to the Rev. Alleyne and Rosalie Howell,

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John Howell was a graduate of St. Paul's School and Yale University. Upon graduation, he

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worked as a news reporter for PM, a New York City daily newspaper. He met his artistic and

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vivacious wife Nelda and the two were married in 1941. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio and

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shortly thereafter, started their family. Mr. Howell took employment as a reporter for the

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Cleveland Plain Dealer, then moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in the Division of

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World Trade Intelligence; and

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     WHEREAS, In December of 1941, the United States declared war against Japan, and

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three days later, upon Germany. Mr. Howell was determined to serve his country, and after his

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eyesight resulted in his being rejected, he memorized the eye chart and successfully joined the

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United States Army. He was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Washington,

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D.C., and was later sent to Burma and China, where he provided intelligence on Japanese

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maneuvers; and

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     WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Howell utilized his skills and intelligence background

 

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working for the CIA as an under-cover banker. His efforts and finesse in finance, world affairs,

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and commerce led to the next chapter of his career, with the J. Henry Schroder Banking

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Corporation based in London, England, where he was named president of the company in 1962,

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and chairman of the board in 1970; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Howell possessed an abundance of business acumen but he was also

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endowed with an equal measure of compassion. As patriarch of his family, he worked to bring

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and keep the family united and strong, and was often turned to for his sage advice and ability to

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listen, understand, and bring out the best in others; and

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     WHEREAS, John Howell left this world a far better place because of his life’s endeavors

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and he enriched the lives of all who knew him. He will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies on the passing of John Howell,

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Sr.; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Marge Boger, John and Carol Howell, and

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Claire and Edward Blatchford.

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