Frank Howard (Louisiana politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Howard
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Howard in 1956
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| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 24th district |
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| In office January 15, 2008 – January 13, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Joe R. Salter |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Schamerhorn |
| Sheriff of Vernon Parish, Louisiana | |
| In office July 1, 1976 – June 30, 2000 |
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| Succeeded by | Sam Craft |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Frank Alden Howard
December 1, 1938 Hornbeck, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 2020 (aged 81) Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Cause of death | COVID-19 |
| Political party | Democratic (1976–2007) Republican (2007–2020) |
| Spouses |
Pauline Cavanaugh
(m. 1961; died 2015)Macel McInnis Anderson
(m. 2017) |
| Children | 4 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1961–1963 |
| Unit | 49th Armored Division |
| Battles/wars | Cuban Missile Crisis |
Frank Alden "Frankie" Howard (born December 1, 1938 – died July 26, 2020) was an American leader who worked in law enforcement and politics. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2008 to 2020. Before that, he was a deputy sheriff and then the sheriff in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, from 1976 to 2000.
Howard was born in Hornbeck, Louisiana. He studied at special institutes for sheriffs and also took courses at Louisiana State University. He started his public service career as the Town Marshal of Hornbeck. Later, he became a deputy sheriff. In 1976, he was elected as the sheriff of Vernon Parish, a job he held for many years. In 2007, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, serving until he could no longer run due to term limits in 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frank Alden Howard was born on December 1, 1938, in Hornbeck, Louisiana. His parents were Robert Howard and Essie Brown. He served in the United States Army from November 1961 to November 1963. During his time in the army, he was part of the 49th Armored Division.
He finished high school at Hornbeck High School. Later, in 1978, he attended the National Sheriffs' Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also took more classes at Louisiana State University to continue his education.
Public Service Career
Serving His Community as Alderman
In 1966, Frank Howard was elected to the city council in Hornbeck, Louisiana. This role meant he helped make decisions for the local town government.
Working in Law Enforcement
Frank Howard spent many years working to keep his community safe.
Becoming Sheriff
In June 1975, Howard left his job as a deputy sheriff to run for sheriff of Vernon Parish. He won the election and started his new role on July 1, 1976. At that time, he was a member of the Democratic Party.
He was re-elected several times as sheriff. In 1979, he won against several other candidates. In 1983 and 1991, he ran for re-election without anyone running against him. In 1987, he won against Scotty McCloud, a former state police officer. In 1995, he defeated Teresa Rushing Miller.
In 1999, Howard decided not to run for sheriff again. He was replaced by Sam Craft.
Sheriff's Responsibilities
In 1960, Howard was appointed as the Town Marshal of Hornbeck. This happened after his father, who held the position, passed away. In 1961, Howard became a deputy sheriff in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, and worked in that role for 15 years.
From 1996 to 1997, Howard served as the Second Vice President of the Louisiana Sheriff Association. He then became the First Vice President from 1998 to 1999. From 1999 to 2000, he was the president of this important association for sheriffs.
Serving in the State Legislature
After his time as sheriff, Frank Howard decided to serve the state of Louisiana.
Election to the House
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In 2007, Howard ran for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 24th district. He ran as a Republican. He won the election and began his term. In 2015, he was re-elected.
In 2019, Howard could not run for re-election because of term limits. This means there's a rule about how many times someone can serve in that position. Rodney Schamerhorn was elected to take his place and started his term on January 13, 2020.
Work in the Legislature
During his time in the Louisiana House of Representatives (from 2008 to 2010), Howard was part of several important groups called committees. These included the Transportation, Agriculture, and Criminal Justice committees. By 2016, he was the oldest member serving in the House of Representatives.
In 2008, Howard voted against a law that would have increased the salaries of members of the Louisiana State Legislature. He also voted against a proposal that would allow college students to carry concealed weapons on campus. In 2012, Howard voted in favor of a law that would create statewide school vouchers and increase the number of charter schools. These laws aimed to give families more choices for their children's education.
Personal Life and Passing
In 1961, Frank Howard married Betty Pauline Cavanaugh. They had three children together. Betty passed away in July 2015. In 2017, he married Macel McInnis Anderson.
Frank Howard passed away on July 26, 2020, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was 81 years old. His death was due to complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana. After his passing, Governor John Bel Edwards honored Howard and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the Louisiana State Capitol and other state buildings.
See also
- Reggie Bagala, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives who also passed away from complications of COVID-19.
