Mr. James A. Howard was born in Norfolk, Virginia on March 8, 1918. He graduated from Oak Ridge Military Academy in 1937 and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941 from the University of North Carolina. He served in the United States Navy from the fall of 1941 until he was discharged as a Lieutenant Commander in Naval Intelligence in 1946. In 1945 Mr. Howard married the former Ellen Logan. They have three children, James A. Howard II, Martha Ellen and Susan Logan Howard. After his discharge from military service, Mr. Howard enrolled at Duke University Law School where he received his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1949. He was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1950. Since 1953 he has been associated with the firm of Breeden, Howard and MacMillan in Norfolk engaging in the general practice of law. Mr. Howard has been a leader in civic and professional affairs. He is a member of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Associations and the Virginia Bar Association. He served as president of the Norfolk-Portsmouth group in 1968-1969 and he was president of the Virginia State Bar in 1974. An active Mason, Mr. Howard is a member of the Khedive Temple of the Order of the Mystic Shrine. He is currently serving a five-year tenure as chief organizer of the Oyster Bowl football game which is sponsored by the Khedive Temple. In 1978 he was named Sportsman of the Year by the Norfolk Sports Club. Mr. Howard was appointed by Governor Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. in 1962 as a member of the first Board of Visitors of Old Dominion College. He served on the board until 1971. In addition, he served as a member of the Old Dominion College Intercollegiate Foundation. A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Howard has also served as president of the Duke Alumni Law Association and the Alumni Council of Duke University.

Note written by Special Collections Staff