Hugh C. Howser, 92
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Hugh C. Howser passed away
on September 15, 2011 at the age of 92. He was born April 6, 1919 in Lafayette,
Tennessee. He was predeceased by his parents, Hugh C. Howser and Lillian
Chamberlain Howser, both of Lafayette, Tennessee, and son Jack Swope Howser.
His three siblings also predeceased him: Harold Howser, of Gallatin, Tennessee;
Hilda Counts of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Helen Nagge of Nashville, Tennessee.
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He is survived by his wife
of 64 years, Elizabeth Swope “Swopie” Howser, a son, Hugh C. Howser, Jr.
(Melissa), two grandchildren, Barbara Anne Corbett (Ben) and Hugh C. Howser,
III, three great-grandchildren, Cameron Akrawi, Charles Corbett and Cooper
Corbett, along with ten nieces and nephews. Mr. Howser was a graduate of Macon
County High School, and obtained his undergraduate degree from Union
University, where he was a member of the ATO fraternity. He attended Vanderbilt
University law school for two years. Following the closing of the law school for
World War II, he moved to New York City and graduated from New York University
law school. He was a practicing attorney in Nashville, Tennessee for over 50
years. Initially, upon graduation, he was general counsel for Life &
Casualty Insurance Company but later joined the private law firm of Williams,
Cummings & West. He was a law partner of the former Nashville mayor, Ben
West, for several years. Ultimately that firm became known as Howser, Thomas,
Summers & Binkley. He ended his legal career as a partner of Trabue,
Sturdivant & DeWitt. He was a member of the Tennessee Bar Association Board
of Governors, and was the initial attorney for the Nashville Housing Authority,
predecessor of the MDHA. He was a lifetime member of Richland Country Club and Brentwood
Country Club. His athletic achievements were many. He attended Union University
on a football scholarship, and was its quarterback in 1937, 1938 and 1939. He
was coached by the legendary Fred DeLay. While attending Vanderbilt law school,
he was the second baseman on the varsity baseball team in 1940 and 1941.
Following World War II, he served as a football referee in the Ohio Valley
Conference and also the TSSAA. For several years, he served as the referee of
the MTSU and Tennessee Tech Annual Thanksgiving Day game. In 2004, he was
inducted into the Macon County Sports Hall of Fame. Throughout his life he was
an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.
He was a member of the Hillsboro Church of Christ where his funeral
service was held on Monday, September 19th. Interment was at Woodlawn Memorial
Park in Nashville. Pallbearers were James Cate Armistead, J. Hunter Atkins,
James Foster Cook, Thomas Manley Pritchett, Joseph Taylor and R. Thomas Patten.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that expressions of sympathy be made in the
form of a donation to Vanderbilt University Athletic Department (Baseball),
2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212.
