Edward Howard (bishop)

Edward Howard was born in Cresco, Iowa, to John and Marie (née Fleming) Howard.[1] His father, who was born in Ireland but immigrated to the United States as a child, served during the Civil War with the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was wounded at the Siege of Vicksburg.[2] Howard had a twin brother who died in infancy.[3] He attended St. Joseph College in Dubuque, where he received his high school education and completed two years of college.[2] He continued his studies at St. Mary College in Kansas and at St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota.[1]

Howard was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Ireland on June 12, 1906.[4] He then returned to St. Joseph College, where he served as professor of Greek and Latin at the high school department.[2] He served as principal of the high school from 1908 until 1916, when he became dean of the college.[2] From 1921 to 1924, he served as president of St. Joseph's.[1]

On December 23, 1923, Howard was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Davenport and titular bishop of Isaura by Pope Pius XI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on April 8, 1924 from Archbishop Austin Dowling, with Bishops Daniel Gorman and Thomas Drumm serving as co-consecrators, at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque.[4] As an auxiliary bishop, he assisted Bishop James J. Davis for two years.

Following the death of Archbishop Alexander Christie, Howard was appointed the fifth Archbishop of Oregon City on April 30, 1926.[4] His installation took place at St. Mary's Cathedral in Portland on August 26 of that year.[4] On September 26, 1928, the name of the archdiocese was changed from Oregon City to Portland in Oregon.[5] During his tenure as archbishop, Howard created a chancery in the cathedral rectory, later transferring it to a separate building.[2] He reorganized the St. Vincent de Paul and Holy Name Societies, fostered the growth of Catholic Charities, and removed the Catholic Sentinel from private ownership.[2]

In 1931, Howard led a successful campaign to repeal local zoning ordinances that prohibited the building of churches and parochial schools.[2] He convened the Fourth Provincial Council of the archdiocese in 1932, and held a synod for the clergy in 1935.[2] In 1939, he founded Central Catholic High School in Portland and was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne by Pope Pius XII in 1939.[1] He convened the Fifth Provincial Council of the archdiocese in 1957, and attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965.[2]

After forty years as archbishop, Howard retired on December 9, 1966; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Albulae by Pope Paul VI on the same date.[4] He served as Apostolic Administrator of the archdiocese until the installation of his successor, Robert Joseph Dwyer.[2]

Howard spent his retirement at Maryville Nursing Home in Beaverton, where he died at age 105.[3] He is interred at Mount Calvary Cemetery. At the time of his death, he was the oldest Catholic prelate in the world.[3]

• Edward Howard at Find a Grave