By Ray Rodriguez, Sports Editor, The Dalles Chronicle, 6/23/2015
MAUPIN, Ore. – Since 1970, John Howey (photo) had been a staple in the Maupin community, as a coach, teacher, parental figure and a positive influence to any and every one he came across.
This past Father’s Day, the South Wasco County High School gymnasium was filled to capacity with well-wishers saying their final goodbyes, while sharing many anecdotes, jokes and stories of an important figure who passed away in his home on May 20 at the age of 67.
“I had a lot of conversations with him when it came to me making plans with my life,” said current South Wasco County High school coach and athletic director Jim Hull. “He had done that with multiple kids at our school over the years. He was a strength in our athletic programs and he did positive things with the kids, whether as a teacher or a coach. He was great at motivating students in our school.”
In his time at Maupin, Howey coached football, cross country, boys’ basketball and girls’ and boys’ track and field.
His 1996 boys’ basketball team finished second in state and placed third in 1998.
Howey also led the girls’ cross country team to a second-place output in 1979, and also third place in 1978 and 1980.
He was the 2002 1A Coach of the Year in track and field the same year he led the Redside program to a state championship.
From all of the sports played in Oregon that season, Howey also earned the 1A classification’s Coach of the Year honors.
This past spring, Howey volunteered his time to work with junior discus and shotput athlete Ellis Rager.
Rager won a shotput district championship with a then career-best of 45-feet-2 inches.
Two days after learning of Howey’s passing, Rager had a career-best shotput attempt of 45-5 for a state crown.
“Well, my track season couldn’t have ended any better. Came in as district champ and left as the 1A state champ of Oregon,” Rager said. “It’s a blessing and an honor to achieve this. I couldn't have done it without the support of my family, friends, coaches, community and everyone else that helped me along the way. Special thanks to Howey for coming and helping me out when he could with my throwing technique. RIP Howey couldn’t have done it without you.”
Howey was born on Sept. 1, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Robert and Mildred Howey.
After graduation from Radford High School in 1965, Howey attended Linfield College in McMinnville, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1969 in Physical Education as well as a Master’s degree in Physical Education in 1970.
He began a teaching career at South Wasco County Union High School in Maupin that year and remained there until his retirement in 2003.
Through her four-year high school career, 2014 graduate Joy Kelly stood out as a volleyball player, track athlete and basketball player.
Howey was along for that journey, as an assistant coach and substitute teacher.
Kelly remembers the funny statements and quick-witted humor Howey had, like calling players walking turtles or cream puffs and marshmallows.
A post player, Kelly worked diligently with Howey on post moves.
Whenever Kelly saw Howey on the streets of Maupin walking his poodle, the long-time coach was quick to tell Kelly to get back to work.
All of it a snapshot of memories, something Kelly will hold dear to her heart for many years to come.
“I was extremely blessed to have such great coaches through all of high school and each and every one of them not only taught me how to be better and push myself in the sport, but taught me about life, and how you can succeed,” Kelly said. “All five of them (coaches) impacted me in such a powerful way. There are no words that can be described on how much this man will be missed by the community.”
When not on the sidelines on in a classroom, Howey could be seen on the banks of the Deschutes River fishing for salmon and trout, or hunting in the hills around Maupin in the fall for deer and elk.
Howey also was a passionate golfer, as a member of the Pine Meadows Golf Club in Wamic, as well as the Kah-nee-ta Resort Golf Club where he golfed regularly, with several tournament wins over the years.
In his more than 20 years as basketball coach, Howey won between 350-400 games.
SWC’s boys’ track and field team won 10 straight district titles in the mid-90s until 2006, with Howey in charge for all but the last four from 2003-2006.
Since 1993, South Wasco County has totaled the 1A division’s all-time highest point total in shotput, discus and javelin.
“He found a way to bring out the very best in every athlete,” Hull said. “He just had that magic touch on what to say to a player to give them the confidence to perform at their best. That’s a skill very few coaches have.”
Being around Howey since he was in middle school, Hull looks back at successful times in athletics or spending time skeet shooting or fishing.
To this day, coach Hull catches himself making statements similar to what Howey would say.
It brings a smile to his face.
“I consider him my mentor. Here’s a guy who was my track coach for all four years in high school, my basketball coach for all four years in his school and the reason why I got into coaching,” Hull said. “Once I was out of high school, in college, we would play golf or do some other things. You cannot weigh the influence he had on me, on who I am today and how he affected the way I am with my very own family. He is the very next thing aside of my family that had a huge impact on pushing me towards the way I coach, my career and what I chose to do and he was around my life since I was 12-13 years old in all my athletic and outdoor adventures.”
Howey is survived by his wife Gwen Snodgrass, mother Mildred, brother Mark and sister in law Mary, five nieces and nephews: Matthew Howey, Jeffrey Manuel (and wife Rhonda), Jana Downs, Mischa Hurst (and husband Troy) and Nathan Grafe (and wife Joyce); two sisters-in-law: Peggy Grafe and Sylvia DeSordi; Two brothers-in-law: Jerry Manuel and Gary Grafe; and eight grand nieces and nephews.
For a slideshow of the ceremony, log on to http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2015/06/linfielder-john-howeyclass-of-1969.html
