John and Gladys Howell, A Working Partnership
Sketches of John and Gladys Howell and their working relationship. Citation for article:"Profile of John and Gladys Howell, a working partnership . . .," Pieces of Eight, June 1, 1982.
Duke University doctoral student John Howell was more than a bit irritated 30 years ago when his major professor suddenly left the country on a Fulbright professorship just as young Howell was beginning to write his dissertation.After weighing the merits and drawbacks fo trying to confer with the professor by mail during his stay in Turkey, Howell decided to suspend work on the dissertation, give up his Duke fellowship and teach a year at Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
Looking back now, Howell regards that decision, based on what he then perceived as misfortune, as a hidden blessing. It was at the Lynchburg, Virginia, campus that he met Gladys Evelyn David, a vivacious brunette from Florida who was on the sociology faculty. They were married at the end of that year.
Gladys Howell continued to teach at Randolph-Macon while her husband completed his doctorate and taught part-time at Duke, then full-time at Sweet Briar College. The birth of son David occurred about the same time John Howell received his PhD in political science from Duke.
Accepts By Phone
Then followed three years in Tennessee, where John Howell was assistant professor at Memphis State University. When East Carolina College President John D. Messick telephoned Howell, offereing him an associate professorship here, he accepted. Six weeks after the birth of Howell's second son, Joseph, the young family came to Greenville.Since then, the Howells' life together has been rich and full, whith family and professional commitments. John Howell was promoted to professor in 1961, and two years later, became chairman of the political science department. From 1966 to 1969 he served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and from 1969 to 1973, as dean of the Graduate School. In 1973 he became Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, stepping down in 1979 to return to fulltime teaching and research, despite the urging of Chancellor Thomas Brewer to continue that leadership role.
His return to the classroom was to be short-lived. Howell was againg pressed into administrative service early this year as Interim Chancellor, and with his recent appointment as Chancellor, he becomes East Carolina's eighth administrative head.
Working Together
Throughout their years at East Carolina, the Howells have continued their working partnership. Gladys Howell taught several extension courses at first, with her schedule arranged so that her husband would be at home with the two little boys during her teaching hours. She joined the sociology faculty full-time when the youngest Howell reached school age. As parents, the Howells encouraged their sons' early interest in music, beginning with piano studies and later extending to instruction in other instruments. A major family project was construction of a harpsichord for use in the boys' practice and performance sessions. Both sons have remained interested in music and occasionally perform with musical ensembles in the Durham area, where David is a Duke University medical student and Joseph, a staff member of the Duke computer center.
Gladys has been on leave of absence from the faculty since her husband's acceptance of the interim chancellorship, and plans to remain on leave indefinitely to help him carry out the various public relations functions of a campus head which, Howell says, "are difficult to do without someone to help."
"She is uniquely qualified for this, more than many wives of university leaders, since she already has knowledge of the campus that is based on many years of faculty service," he said.
Popular on Campus
Both Howells have been popular figures in the campus and local communities for many years, and have already proven their skill as hosts at receptions held this spring in the Fifth Street chancellor's residence. They plan to move to the official residence from their home on East Longmeadow Road later, but will keep their little blue compact car. Some observers have hinted that a Honda CVCC is ill befitting the dignity of high office, but the tiny vehicle is typical of the Howells' unpretentious and practical style."My wife and I like the car, so we'll definitely be using it," says Howell. "We will use the big state car only for official busines."
