Richard C. Howe | |
---|---|
Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court | |
In office 1998–2002 | |
Appointed by | Gov. Scott M. Matheson |
Preceded by | D. Frank Wilkins |
Succeeded by | Christine M. Durham |
Personal details | |
Born | South Cottonwood, Utah | January 20, 1924
Died | June 19, 2021 Murray, Utah | (aged 97)
Richard Cuddy Howe[1] (January 20, 1924 – June 19, 2021)[2] was an American politician and judge. At the time of his retirement in 2003, he was the only person in Utah history to serve as a member of the State House of Representatives, the State Senate, and the State Supreme Court.[2] He served on the Utah Supreme Court from 1980 to 2002,[3] and was the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1998 to April 2002.[4]
Born in South Cottonwood, Utah, Howe attended Woodstock Elementary School in Murray, and graduated from Granite High School.[2] He received a B.S. degree in speech from the University of Utah in 1943, and received his law degree from the University of Utah College of Law in 1948.[4]
Howe was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Juanita Lyon were married in the Salt Lake Temple with the marriage performed by John A. Widstoe.[5] He served in multiple positions in The Church including as the first bishop of the Murray 11th ward, a member of the South Cottonwood Stake Presidency and a regional representative of the 12 apostles.
His brother, Allan Turner Howe, was a one-term U.S. Representative from Utah.[6]
Howe served eighteen years in the Utah State Legislature as a Democrat:[7] six terms in the Utah House of Representatives from 1951 to 1958, and from 1969 to 1972,[2] and two terms in the Utah Senate, from 1972 to 1978. During this time he served as a Judge in the Murray City Court from 1953 to 1955, and as Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1972.[4]
In December 1980, Utah Governor Scott M. Matheson appointed Howe to a seat on the Utah Supreme Court vacated by the resignation of Justice D. Frank Wilkins.[8] Howe served as Associate Chief Justice from 1988 to 1993, and became chief justice in March 1998.[2] He also served as the Judicial Council's representative on the Utah State Retirement Membership Council. Howe retired on December 31, 2002,[9] and was succeeded on the Court by Jill Parrish.[10]
He died on June 19, 2021, in Murray, Utah, at age 97.[11]