Vernon Edgar Howard

Vernon Edgar "Ed" Howard (April 13, 1937 – July 2, 1998) was a Texan politician who served in the Texas House of Representatives for District 1 from 1969 to 1975 and the Texas Senate for District 1 from 1979 to 1986. He served in both positions as a representative of the Democratic Party.

Early years and education Howard was born on April 13, 1937, in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Verna Elisha Howard and Ruth Moryne (nee Jackson) and moved to Texas at a very early age. He later attended Abilene Christian College and graduated in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Texas House of Representatives Howard served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1969 to 1975. While in office, he was selected "Who's Who in American Politics," "Who's Who in the South," and was instrumental in the passage of key legislation in education and city services that earned him the award "Outstanding Young Legislator."

Texas Senate After serving three terms in the Texas House, he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1978, where he served from 1979 to 1986.

Howard's major areas of concern were wiretapping, insurance, industrial revenue bonds, and revisions in the method of financing our colleges and universities. He served on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission and was twice selected a delegate to the Southern Regional Education Board.

Committees +Committee Chart HouseSenateYearR.S.CommitteesYearR.S.Committees196961stClaims

Elections

Governmental Affairs and Efficiency

Oil, Gas and Mining

State Contracting Procedures, Interim

Youth197966thAdministration (Vice Chair) Administration Subcommittee: Rules Economic Development

State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee: Nominations197162ndAdministration

Business and Marketing Affairs

Counties

Degree Plans

Highways and Roads

House Rules and Procedures

School Districts

Urban Affairs198167thAdministration (Vice Chair) Administration Subcommittee: Rules Fees and Grants, Interim

Finance (Vice Chair)

Regional Intergovernmental Cooperation, Special

State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee: Nominations197363rdEnvironmental Affairs Environmental Affairs Subcommittee: State Parks Human Resources

Revenue and Taxation Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee: Exemptions198368thCommittee of the Whole Senate Committee of the Whole Senate Subcommittee: Finance Economic Development

Finance (Vice Chair)

Regional Intergovernmental Cooperation, Special

State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee: Nominations198569thAdministration, Special

Committee of the Whole Senate

Economic Development

Finance (Vice Chair)

Jurisprudence

Natural Resources

Nominations, Special (Chair)

Premium Tax Task Force

State Affairs

Family and personal life He married Jo Ann Jay in 1960. He became very successful in the business world with his wife. They had four children: Eric, Jay, Lee, and Katie.

An animal lover, Howard went hunting with a group of friends every year; however, his actual purpose was to fire off rounds but not hit the deer so as to make them wary during the hunting season; in ten years of such conservation-oriented hunting, he did not succeed in killing one animal and maintained a close bond of friendship with his hunting buddies who said that he "just can't hit the broadside of a barn." He is survived by his wife, children, and ten grandchildren.