I have been and always be a devout Howard disciple , my DD started at 14 with him and stayed close thru her college days. We met alot of the USA Olympians right in his garage/hitting area, where they would converse and hit with my Natalie for the hours shed be there. Theres no telling how many lives he touched and altered thru his instructing.
I had a pitcher play for me named Alicia Miller, Kentucky's player of the year her senior year at Bishop Brossart h.s . She really wanted to attend Bellermine but the coach seemed disinterested. I asked Howard and he said he'd call the coach and speak to her only if Alicia would come and go thru his hitting instruction. Long story short, Alicia called me and told me she was signed to go to Bellermine where she ended up with probably every pitching record they have.
Howard and his son would come to Duncans and my tryouts and help out with anything asked of them, mostly evaluating hitters. but i know he was there because he loved the game. He never wanted compensation for his instruction, he just asked for a case or so of gatorade/water for his students.
I was treated to a jack n coke once made by him that looked like it was in one of those glass tea jugs, needless to say Natalie drove home that night.
I deeply respect the man , a dear friend who i can honestly say i loved. The world is truely a lesser place with him gone.......
