Dick Howell Named "Pioneer of the Year"

With the annual Pioneer Days festival only days away, the sponsoring Lake Wales History Museum has revealed Richard "Dick" Dane Howell as the 2024 Pioneer of the Year.

Courtesy Howell family

Dick Howell has been named as the 2024 Pioneer of the Year. He will be recognized during Pioneer Hour as the annual Pioneer Days festival October 26 and 27.

"Mr. Howell's exceptional dedication to the Lake Wales community and his remarkable achievements truly define him as a pioneer and a worthy recipient of this prestigious award," said museum president Brandon Alvarado in revealing the selection,

The honorific of "Pioneer of the Year" has been bestowed upon a series of community leaders during the long run of the two-day festival. The award is normally presented to the recipient during the Saturday morning Pioneer Hour, initiated by the ringing of the bell from the city's first schoolhouse.

The Pioneer Days will be observed October 26 and 27 in Lake Wailes Park, following a kick-off "Beers with Pioneers" event downtown on Friday night.

In addition to the award, the festival draws as many as ten thousand to its displays of pioneer crafts and survival skills, with demonstrations by dozens of workers in wood, iron, basketry, and other needs that weren't readily available to people living in frontier Florida. The Lake Wales area was settled only after the turn of the 20th century.

Courtesy Howell family

Howell can claim pioneer roots. His paternal grandparents originally settled in Babson Park, Florida, in 1921, establishing deep roots in the area. Howell was born on December 20, 1947, at Lake Wales Hospital.

Howell graduated from Lake Wales Senior High School in 1965 and embarked on a diverse and successful career that spanned military service, education, business leadership, and significant community involvement. His first professional role was as a draftsman for the Florida Department of Transportation from 1965 to 1967 and again from 1969 to 1972. In between, he served as a Company Clerk (SP5 ES) in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969, stationed in Hohenfels, West Germany.

Howell married his wife Jean C. Howell in July 1971 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and they raised three children: Benjamin C. Howell, Lucas Oliver Howell, and Elise Christa Howell Tanner. They are proud grandparents to Ellis and Jane Howell, Emma and Leila Howell, and Henry and John Tanner.

Courtesy Howell family

Howell is a devoted fan of the Florida Gators and raises his grandchildren in the colors.

A passionate supporter of local education and sports, Howell served as the president of the Highlander Boosters for Lake Wales High School from 1994 to 1999 and was a member until 2010. He was the public address announcer or "Voice of the Highlanders" for Lake Wales High School football, basketball, and baseball teams from the 1990s through 2017, and held the same role for Webber International University's football team from 2002 to 2010.

In recognition of his service, Howell was named "Mr. Highlander" by Lake Wales High School in 2005 and was honored by the Polk County School Board as the Lake Wales High School Volunteer of the Year in 2009. In 2010, the press box at Legion Field was renamed in his honor. His contributions also extended to the Lake Wales Little League, where he served as a board member, team manager, sponsor, and umpire.

Howell served as a City Commissioner for Lake Wales from 1995 to 1999 and has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Lake Wales, holding positions on the Board of Trustees and serving in various committees over the years.