John McDade Howell was born on January 28, 1922, in Five Points, Alabama and died on January 3, 2016.
He was the seventh chancellor of East Carolina University.
In 1942, John joined the US Army Air Corps and served for three years in the European Theater, which he received a Bronze Star.
After he was honorably discharged he enrolled at the University of Alabama, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1948 and a master’s degree in political science the following year.
He graduated as a part of the Phi Beta Kappa.
He earned his doctorate in political science from Duke University, in 1954.
After which John joined the faculty as an associate professor of Political Science at Memphis State University.
Howell then relocated to Greenville, North Carolina and joined ECU faculty in 1957.
He was promoted to full professor in 1961.
John then assumed many roles, including founder and first chair of the Political Science department.
After which, he was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and then the Dean of the Graduate School.
John Howell became Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1973 and served in that position until 1979.
He when back to the classroom for a three-year period from 1979 to 1982, he assumed the position of Chancellor in 1982.
He was named Chancellor Emeritus, in 1987.
John McDade Howell passed away at 96 yrs old.