2020 -- H 7393

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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

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Mattiello, McNamara, Solomon, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, There was a brief interlude in the chronicle of John Howell's career when he

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wanted to be a politician. To the good fortune of all Rhode Islanders, he chose instead to

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document the historic escapades and events of our great state; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Howell graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with

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a degree in political science. After a brief stint volunteering and working with various political

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candidates, he sought employment in the public relations field, only to discover that experience in

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journalism was a necessary prerequisite; and

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     WHEREAS, Being in the right place at the right time led Mr. Howell to his first job as a

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reporter for the Port Chester Daily Item in Connecticut. After two years of invaluable experience,

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he joined the Air National Guard and was assigned to a unit based in White Plains, New York, as

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the country's involvement in the Vietnam War began to intensify; and

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     WHEREAS, While still working for the Daily Item, Mr. Howell issued dispatches from

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Vietnam and was subsequently activated for the mission by his base commander, who had hoped

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to highlight the installation's work in order to prevent the base's closure. Eventually, his stories

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for the paper were syndicated through the Gannett chain; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Howell's work at the Daily Item afforded him the experience and

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credentials necessary to land a job as editor of the Manchester, Connecticut, bureau for the

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Hartford Times, which in turn resulted in the opportunity to take a job with the East Providence

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Post where he met his future business partner, Anthony Ritacco; and

 

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     WHEREAS, In 1969, Mr. Howell and Mr. Ritacco bought the Beacon and produced their

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first Warwick Beacon edition on December 5, 1969; and

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     WHEREAS, Through the next five decades of local and world events, blizzards, murders,

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weddings, and political comings and goings, the Beacon has reported the news, informed the

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public, and been active watchdogs for open meetings infringements and public records issues; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Howell has also been notably and admirably involved with community

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issues and state and local organizations. He served as President of the Rhode Island Press

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Association, has been an advocate for the journalism program at the University of Rhode Island

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and the Academic Decathlon, and has been an active supporter with the organization Mentor

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Rhode Island and with efforts to preserve Rocky Point, to name but a few of his many altruistic

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endeavors; and

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     WHEREAS, The accolades and praise for Mr. Howell's dedication to our State come

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from every facet of life. He has been described as a "real newshound," a "highly accomplished

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reporter and media executive," the "epitome of a dedicated community leader," an “inspiration

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with his dedication to his craft," and an honorable man with a wonderful sense of humor; now,

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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 congratulates and honors Warwick Beacon Publisher and Editor

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John Howell, and thanks him on behalf of all Rhode Islanders for 50 years of eloquent and

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informative journalism. We moreover wish him the very best health and continued success; and

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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 Mr. John Howell.

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