H 5449  Resolution, By Calhoon, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, 
Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, Brawley, 
Brittain, Bryant, Burns, Bustos, Carter, Caskey, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, 
Cogswell, Collins, B.Cox, W.Cox, Crawford, Dabney, Daning, Davis, Dillard, 
Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Fry, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, 
Gilliam, Gilliard, Govan, Haddon, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, 
Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hyde, Jefferson, 
J.E.Johnson, J.L.Johnson, K.O.Johnson, Jones, Jordan, King, Kirby, Ligon, 
Long, Lowe, Lucas, Magnuson, Matthews, May, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGarry, 
McGinnis, McKnight, J.Moore, T.Moore, A.M.Morgan, T.A.Morgan, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, 
Murphy, Murray, B.Newton, W.Newton, Nutt, Oremus, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, 
Pope, Rivers, Robbins, Robinson, Rose, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M.Smith, 
G.R.Smith, M.M.Smith, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Tedder, Thayer, Thigpen, Trantham, 
Weeks, West, Wetmore, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, R.Williams, S.Williams, Willis, 
Wooten and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF HOWARD TOBIAS ROWELL OF
 COLUMBIA, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS
 FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

   06/28/22  House  Introduced and adopted

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF HOWARD TOBIAS ROWELL OF COLUMBIA, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened by the passing of Howard Tobias Rowell of Columbia, on June 5, 2022, at the venerable age of ninety-three; and

Whereas, born February 13, 1929, in Georgetown, Howard was the son of Tobias Rowell and Lillie Mae Broome Rowell. The young Howard, who spent much of his childhood in Charleston and Great Falls, joined the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17 in 1946, graduating from boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, followed by Sea School at San Diego's Marine Corps Base. After sea duty in Europe and the Middle East, he served a stint at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Marine Barracks; and

Whereas, following his honorable discharge from the Marines, Howard entered the University of South Carolina (UofSC) and graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He was then commissioned into the U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR) and served in a variety of posts, including as a security officer at North (South Carolina) Air Force Auxiliary Airfield and as a Reserve liaison officer to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. He retired from the USAFR with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1973. In addition to his military service, Howard, an accomplished businessman, was founding president of Acta-Fax Business Machines in Columbia and Charleston; and

Whereas, this fiercely competitive lifelong athlete was a boxing champion who fought in the Golden Gloves, Marine Corps, and intramural competitions at the UofSC and briefly served as a USAFR boxing instructor. He regularly worked out and jumped rope like a 20-year-old into his late 70s and trained family and friends to box. Further, he was a ping-pong enthusiast; and

Whereas, Howard was generous with his time, resources, and service to others. He served as president of the Columbia Golden K Kiwanis Club and was an active member of the Columbia Executives Club. A past president of the Cardinal Newman High School Booster Club, he was instrumental in raising funds to build the school's first gym. Howard also was a former member of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church and Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, where he served as an ordained elder. In his later years, he was a member of Columbia's Northeast Presbyterian Church. Howard loved the Lord and was always eager to pray with others; and

Whereas, Howard loved traveling, and he and his devoted wife, Tita, traveled around the world, enjoying a number of cruises. A man with many friends and a great sense of humor, Howard loved to tell stories. He was a passionate Gamecock fan in any sport and also loved animals of all kinds; and

Whereas, Howard Rowell leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Alba Smith "Tita" Rowell; his children, Technical Sergeant (Ret.) James Tobias Rowell, Faye Rowell Horne, Sharon Rowell Shreve, Edward L. Rowell, and Charles H. Rowell; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Colonel (Ret.) W. Thomas Smith, Jr., Annette Smith Fowler, and James D. Smith; and several stepgrandchildren. Mr. Rowell was predeceased by his first wife, Francis Rowell, and his second wife, Rosalie Rowell, as well as by daughters Sylvia Rowell Nye and Sandra Kaye Rowell. He will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Howard Tobias Rowell of Columbia, celebrate his life, and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Alba Smith "Tita" Rowell for the family.