Mizzou Botanic Garden Tribute Bench Sponsor shares tribute story

Ann Eisenhardt:
WITH LOVING MEMORY OF LIVES BEAUTIFULLY LIVED.
MY BROTHER, DAVID LEE HOWELL AND OUR PARENTS
DR. DILLON LEE AND MARILEE HOWELL

 

COACH DAVE HOWELL
MIZZOU WOMEN’S SWIM TEAM 1974-1981
“LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN”

The Howell family moved to Columbia in 1952 when their children Ann and David were young. Lee Howell served as a science instructor at Stephens College, eventually becoming head of the department. Marilee Howell was a physical education instructor at MU for 40 years.

“David began swimming competitively in the early 60s. He was on the Stephens Lake Swim Team before it’s combined with the Southwest Swim Club to become one team.,” said Ann (Howell) Eisenhardt.

The Howell’s enjoyed nature and being outside. On weekends that weren’t spent at swim meets, they were usually camping, hiking or on float trips.

“My family enjoyed life more than anyone I’ve ever known,” Ann said.

“Mom ran four miles a day when she was 80, and regularly played tennis,” Eisenhardt said.

David received a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where he was a three-time Big 8 Champion and a national qualifier in backstroke. He returned to MU as coach of the women’s swim team in 1974, following in his mother’s footsteps. His seven-year coaching stint at MU produced 10 All Americans, seven Big 8 Champions and four members of the Mizzou Sports Hall of Fame.

“David was something special,” Eisenhardt said. “He was the gentlest, kindest man I’ve ever known. I never heard him say one bad thing. He always found the best in people.”

Lee passed away in 1993 and David died in 2009, a year before Marilee.

Ann Eisenhardt dedicated a Tribute Bench to her family who “enjoyed life more than anyone.” Left to right are her mother, Marilee Howell, her father Lee Howell and her brother David with his daughter Stephanie.

“The swim team dedicated a bench in David’s honor and then I dedicated a bench for my entire family,” Eisenhardt said. “They are side-by-side by the tiger and waterfall on Carnahan Quad.”

In reference to the tribute on the swim team’s Tribute Bench, Eisenhardt said that after competing in the women’s Big 8 Swimming Championships, David and the team made a mad dash to a Willie Nelson concert. They were invited up on stage to join Nelson in singing the encore, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”.

“It’s my impression that song is about the team sticking together and supporting one another. It’s about camaraderie,” she said.

“I love seeing those benches on campus. I think of them more as a tribute to my family’s lives than a memorial in a cemetery where it’s more a memorial to their deaths. And I love the idea of kids sitting on them studying.

My son graduated from MU in finance and my daughter graduated from UMKC in medicine, yet took several classes from MU. They love the town and the campus and are very proud of the benches commemorating our loving family, as I am.”

Story by Jan-Wiese-Fales