2020 -- H 7393 | |
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LC003680 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
CONGRATULATING WARWICK BEACON PUBLISHER AND EDITOR JOHN HOWELL | |
FOR HIS 50 YEARS IN LOCAL JOURNALISM | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Mattiello, McNamara, Solomon, and Bennett | |
Date Introduced: January 30, 2020 | |
Referred To: House read and passed | |
1 | WHEREAS, There was a brief interlude in the chronicle of John Howell's career when he |
2 | wanted to be a politician. To the good fortune of all Rhode Islanders, he chose instead to |
3 | document the historic escapades and events of our great state; and |
4 | WHEREAS, Mr. Howell graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with |
5 | a degree in political science. After a brief stint volunteering and working with various political |
6 | candidates, he sought employment in the public relations field, only to discover that experience in |
7 | journalism was a necessary prerequisite; and |
8 | WHEREAS, Being in the right place at the right time led Mr. Howell to his first job as a |
9 | reporter for the Port Chester Daily Item in Connecticut. After two years of invaluable experience, |
10 | he joined the Air National Guard and was assigned to a unit based in White Plains, New York, as |
11 | the country's involvement in the Vietnam War began to intensify; and |
12 | WHEREAS, While still working for the Daily Item, Mr. Howell issued dispatches from |
13 | Vietnam and was subsequently activated for the mission by his base commander, who had hoped |
14 | to highlight the installation's work in order to prevent the base's closure. Eventually, his stories |
15 | for the paper were syndicated through the Gannett chain; and |
16 | WHEREAS, Mr. Howell's work at the Daily Item afforded him the experience and |
17 | credentials necessary to land a job as editor of the Manchester, Connecticut, bureau for the |
18 | Hartford Times, which in turn resulted in the opportunity to take a job with the East Providence |
19 | Post where he met his future business partner, Anthony Ritacco; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, In 1969, Mr. Howell and Mr. Ritacco bought the Beacon and produced their |
2 | first Warwick Beacon edition on December 5, 1969; and |
3 | WHEREAS, Through the next five decades of local and world events, blizzards, murders, |
4 | weddings, and political comings and goings, the Beacon has reported the news, informed the |
5 | public, and been active watchdogs for open meetings infringements and public records issues; and |
6 | WHEREAS, Mr. Howell has also been notably and admirably involved with community |
7 | issues and state and local organizations. He served as President of the Rhode Island Press |
8 | Association, has been an advocate for the journalism program at the University of Rhode Island |
9 | and the Academic Decathlon, and has been an active supporter with the organization Mentor |
10 | Rhode Island and with efforts to preserve Rocky Point, to name but a few of his many altruistic |
11 | endeavors; and |
12 | WHEREAS, The accolades and praise for Mr. Howell's dedication to our State come |
13 | from every facet of life. He has been described as a "real newshound," a "highly accomplished |
14 | reporter and media executive," the "epitome of a dedicated community leader," an “inspiration |
15 | with his dedication to his craft," and an honorable man with a wonderful sense of humor; now, |
16 | therefore be it |
17 | RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
18 | Providence Plantations hereby congratulates and honors Warwick Beacon Publisher and Editor |
19 | John Howell, and thanks him on behalf of all Rhode Islanders for 50 years of eloquent and |
20 | informative journalism. We moreover wish him the very best health and continued success; and |
21 | be it further |
22 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
23 | transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. John Howell. |
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LC003680 | |
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