PORT TOWNSEND — William “Bill” Howard was an exceedingly fair judge who loved his family and possessed a strong sense of humor, his friends and colleagues say.
The former Jefferson County Superior Court judge died in his Port Townsend home on Monday after a long battle with cancer.
He was 70 years old.
“He was a man of great character and a credit to our profession,” said Clallam County Superior Court Judge S. Brooke Taylor, whose legal career has mirrored Howard’s.
“I learned from him how to be a judge,” said former Jefferson County District Judge Mark Huth.
Howard became Jefferson County’s first full-time Superior Court judge in 1982 and served on the bench until 2000.
“He was my role model for how to be a public servant,” said Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell, who worked as a deputy clerk in Howard’s court in the 1980s.
Memorial service
A community memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. March 8 at Fort Worden State Park Commons. Linde Family Funeral Services of Sequim is in charge of the arrangements.
Dalzell described Howard as “a great listener” who was thoughtful and generous with his time.
“He had the best sense of humor,” she added.
“It was very dry. He would try to keep straight face and say something funny.”
Howard moved from Olympia to Port Townsend in 1974. He opened a private practice and served as Jefferson County prosecuting attorney.
As a judge, “he was exceedingly fair,” Dalzell said. “He worked really hard, and he expected others to live up to his standards.”
Huth agreed.
“Bill was an excellent judge,” he said. “He was very thoughtful. He kept control of the courtroom.”
But Howard was more than a good judge, they say. He was a community leader.
Howard started the mock trial program at Port Townsend High School and the People’s Law School for Jefferson County, where lawyers teach citizens about the law.
“Bill worked far beyond the bench,” Huth said.
“He told me being on the bench is only on the part of the job. You need to be involved in the community. I took his advice in that.”
By choice, Howard refrained from socializing when he was a sitting judge. He didn’t want to give the impression that he favored one person over another, Dalzell said.
“Off the bench, Bill was very personable,” Huth said. “He had a good sense of humor and got along well with anybody he came in contact with.”
“One of the things about Judge Howard that I admired the most was he set a standard for courtroom decorum that he himself followed,” Dalzell said.
Howard was active in the Port Townsend Rotary Club and involved with Habitat for Humanity International.
In his retirement, Howard and his wife, Gwen Howard, to whom he was married for 45 years, traveled extensively. They taught in Tanzania and worked on infrastructure projects in Guatemala.
“He was very close with his family,” Dalzell said.
“He was quite proud that his son chose the law as a profession.”
Dalzell once testified in Howard’s courtroom and recalls that Howard “made sure the lawyers treated the witnesses with courtesy.”
“He ran a tight ship,” she said.
Howard received two years of treatment at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Born April 3, 1938, near the cornfields of western Indiana, Howard had an early interest in basketball, politics and religion.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in math from a small college in Indianapolis.
In 1967, Howard graduated from the University of Washington School of Law. He entered the field as assistant Attorney General for the state.
“He was a good person,” Huth said.
“It’s sad to see him go, that’s for sure.”
He is survived by his wife, of Port Townsend; three children, Anne, Brice and Grant; five grandchildren, Signe, Britt, Colin, Lillian and Max; his sister Margery; and in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends.
His family said they are appreciative of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the assistance of the Hospice of Jefferson County.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the charity of the sender’s choice.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
