Clark Howell

For the American anthropologist, seeFrancis Clark Howell.

Clark Howell
President of the Georgia State Senate
In office 1903-1905
Member of the Georgia State Senate
In office 1901-1905
Speakerof the Georgia House of Representatives
In office 1891–1893
Member of the Georgia House of RepresentativesfromFulton County
In office 1887–1893
Member of the Fulton CountyBoard of Commissioners
In office 1897-1898
Personal details
Born	(1863-09-21)September 21, 1863 Erwinton,Edgefield County, South Carolina,C.S.
Died	November 14, 1936(1936-11-14)(aged 73) Atlanta, Georgia,U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Harriet Glascock Barrett (1887-1898; her death) Annie Comer (1900-1922; her death) Margaret Cannon Carr (1922-1936; his death)
Children	five
Alma mater	University of Georgia
Occupation	Journalist
Signature
Pulitzer Prizewinner

Clark Howell(September 21, 1863 – November 14, 1936) was aPulitzer PrizewinningAmericannewspaper man and politician from the state ofGeorgia.For fifty-three years, he was editorial executive and owner ofThe Atlanta Constitution.

Early years and education

Clark Howell was born on September 21, 1863, in Erwinton, inEdgefield County, South Carolina,to Julia A. Erwin and Evan P. Howell.During theAmerican Civil Warhis mother was inSouth Carolinawhile his father, CaptainEvan Howell,served in theinfantryand commanded a Confederateartillery battery.After the war, Howell's father moved the family toAtlantawhere the senior Howell cut and sold timber from family land. Two years later,Evan Howellfound employment as a reporter and city editor for theAtlanta Intelligencer.In 1876, Evan Howell bought a half interest in theAtlanta Constitutionfrom Col. E.Y. Clarke.The other half interest was owned byWilliam A. Hemphill,future mayor of Atlanta, who retained his half ownership interest and his position as the paper's business manager until 1901.

Clark Howell attended theUniversity of Georgia(UGA) inAthenswhere he was a member of thePhi Kappa Literary Societyas well as an early member of theGammachapter of theKappa Alpha Order,and graduated with anA.B.degree in 1883.

Career in journalism

Directly after graduating from college, Howell moved toNew York Cityand began working as a reporter forThe New York Timesthen worked as the night telegraph editor of thePhiladelphia Press.

In 1884 he returned to Atlanta and worked as a reporter and night editor at his father's newspaper, theAtlanta Constitution.His father was editor-in-chief. After managing editorHenry W. Gradydied in 1889, the younger Howell took over that position. He eventually succeeded his father as editor-in-chief in 1897, upon the elder Howell's retirement.In 1901, Clark Howell purchased controlling shares in theConstitution,from Hemphill, to become its new owner. Howell remained owner and editor of the paper until his death in 1936.

Political service and Pulitzer Prize

Starting in 1886, Howell was elected to three terms in theGeorgia House of Representatives,serving as Speaker for one term. In 1897, he was elected to theFulton CountyBoard of Commissioners and served for one year. In 1900, he was elected one of the original directors of theAssociated Press,a position he maintained the rest of his life. Also in 1900 he was elected to theGeorgia Senatewhere he served consecutive two-years terms and was the President of that body during the latter term.Following that he was defeated in the contentious 1906 DemocraticGeorgia gubernatorialrace won byHoke Smith,owner of the rivalAtlanta Journalnewspaper.

Even though Howell was a lifelongDemocrat,PresidentWarren G. Hardingplaced him on a special mining commission in 1922 and ten years later PresidentHooverappointed him to a national transportation commission.

He served as Georgia's state Democratic committeeman from 1896 to 1924 and again starting in June 1936 where he succeeded GovernorEugene Talmadge.

TheAtlanta Constitutionwon the1931 Pulitzer Prizefor Howell's series exposing theAtlanta graft ringwhich led to six indictments and the downfall of MayorI. N. Ragsdale's political career. In 1934, PresidentRooseveltnamed him to chair theFederal Aviation Commissionin the wake of theAir Mail scandaland appointed him chairman of a commission to study aviation in foreign countries. The French government made him aChevalier of the Legion of Honorin 1935.

Radio

In late July 1923, Howell arranged for the donation toGeorgia Techof equipment previously used by theAtlanta Constitution'sradio station,WGM,which was used to help launch WBBF (later WGST, nowWGKAAM 920) in January 1924.Operating as a commercial station with educational opportunities for students, the radio station was officially owned by theBoard of Regents.After several lawsuits, the station was sold to a private corporation in 1974. (In 1968 the school established an educational FM station,WREK.)A freshman residence hall at Georgia Tech,Howell Hall,as well as an academic building at hisalma mater,Clark Howell Hall, are named in his honor.

Personal life

Howell's second wife, Annie, was the daughter ofHugh Comer,president of theCentral of Georgia Railway.

Death

When Clark Howell died, on November 14, 1936, in Atlanta, he was the president and editor of theAtlanta Constitutionand a director of the Associated Press.

See also

• List of speakers of the Georgia House of Representatives

External links

• Clark Howell - Atlanta History Photograph Collection
• Clark Howell family papers - Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscripts Library (University of Georgia)
• Clark HowellatFind a Grave
• Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library,Emory University:Clark Howell papers, 1864-1936