North High Hall of Fame Inductee - 1992 Judge Joseph Clemens Howard Class of January, 1941
District Court Judge for the District Court of Maryland. He was presented Drake University Alumni's highest honor in ceremonies at the University in 1986. Judge Howard received his liberal arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1950, his law degree from Drake in 1955, and his master's degree from Drake in 1957. He was the first black to be elected to the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City in 1968. He was appointed to the District Court in 1979. His obituary in the Des Moines Register dated Friday, September 22, 2000: Joseph C. However, Sr., a pioneering African-American judge, died of a rare neurological ailment Saturday at his home in Pikesville, MD. He was 77. Mr. Howard was born in Des Moines and had attended North High School. His father, Charles Howard, was an attorney and civil rights activist before being driven out Des Moines for his political activities. In a 1979 Des Moines Register interview, Judge Howard credited his father for much of his drive. Mr. Howard went on to attend the University of Iowa, where he was the only black football player in 1944. He said it was on the football field that he found the courage it would take to launch a trailblazing career as an attorney and judge. During a game in Indiana, his coach used a racial slur in referring to another player. Mr. Howard demanded an apology and when he did not receive one, he walked out of the stadium. Mr. Howard graduated from Drake University Law School in 1955. After graduation, he moved to Baltimore, where he was assistant city solicitor and assistant state's attorney, and served on the Supreme Bench. He was appointed to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, becoming Baltimore's first black federal judge. Mr. Howard frequently was in the spotlight for civil rights activism. He spoke out against discrimination against black men in rape cases when he was assistant state's attorney. He maintained that black men accused of raping white women received harsher penalties than white men. Although his statement sparked protests from judges throughout Maryland, even causing him a suspension from his post, Judge Howard did not back down. He produced a 32-page document providing evidence of his allegations. During his career, Mr. Howard published several pieces on discrimination and the law. He had served on the executive board to the National Committee of Inquiry, American Bar Association, Judicial Council of the National Bar Association, Board of counselors at Drake University Law School, Board of Directors for the National Bar Foundation, and the U.S. Defense Department Task Force. He is survived by his son, Joseph Howard, Jr., and a brother, Lawrence Howard of Pittsburgh. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gwendolyn, who also was born in Des Moines.
Deceased: 09/16/00 in Pikesville, MD 21208
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