Birth date: Nov 18, 1939 Death date: Oct 12, 2012
Annapolis, MD – Capt. James Willoughby Howard, USN retired, 72, of Annapolis, MD, died on October 12, 2012. Capt. Howard was born in Blanchard, OK, the son of the late Lowell and Ruth Howard, and was a 1958 graduate of Bartlesvil Read Obituary
So very sorry for your loss. I believe Jim to be a distant cousin of my daughter. Her grandmother is Jennie Gray Howard (was married to Gene King) from Mt Pleasant TN and Willoughby Howard was her 4x great grandfather. I noticed several other family names (Larissa) and thought there must be a connection. I thank Jim for his service to the United States. Again, my sincere condolences.
Respectfully,
Cheryle Luzack
Columbia TN
[email protected]
Jim was already the RAM program manager when I joined the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) program as a young engineer doing missle flight and combat system performance analysis. I appreciate so much those great years of working closely with him. Jim's patience, understanding, and humor of my low time experience as a new analysis project lead helped me learn to successfully work inside the DC program office structure and made me that much more dedicated to providing useful analysis for his program decisions. He created a great program environment to be part of as he brought together often opposing government and contractor agents into a team that turned around RAM's problems with technical issues. That in itself would have been a hard won success alone but with two nations developing the system he had to successfully do this across U.S. and German agencies as well. The reality that RAM systems are on the Navy's ships today is primarily due to the leadership he provided and the teaming he built around him. He remains a great figure in my life. I hope the many wonderful memories of him in your lives and the comfort of family/friends nearby can carry you through this tough time.
With great respect,
Dan Dobison
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division
Jim was a great leader and an even greater friend. As a Navy Captain in charge of the RAM Program he was the finest Naval officer I ever encountered and I know that many of the RAM team and colleagues at APL share that feeling. We had many memorable trips together to California & Germany and my life is much richer for having known him. He had a near photographic memoryand was so smart - I always wished he had gotten on Jeopardy as I'm confident he would have won easily. He was also very perceptive about people and could almost instantly determine a person's true character. I know his family is missing him greatly and I'm sorry his grandchildren won't get to know him as I did.
Miller Whisnant
Helen,
I am so sorry for your loss. However, I was very happy to have been able to have dinner with you and Jim recently. It was a great event for me as I had wanted for some time to get back in touch with Jim and you. Please, keep me in mind if I can help in any way.
Ron Steele
