The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce announced will host their Howe Hall of Honor would this Friday, May 13, 2022, at 6 pm at Summit Gardens. They inductees for the Class of 2022 will be Roger Tidwell, Dale Rideout, Lana Rideout, and Shawn “Moondog” Fountain.
The Chamber will also announce the 2021 Norma J. Wallace Citizen of the Year, Jean Norman Volunteer of the Year, Business of the Year, and Volunteer Organization of the Year.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/howe-hall-of-honor-and-awards-night-2022-tickets-289920729707. Cookies and coffee will be provided by Keep Howe Beautiful.
The Chamber will also dish out their annual awards in which Nick Upton will be named Norma J. Wallace Citizen of the Year. Brent Brunner will be named the Jean Norman Volunteer of the Year. Guns N More will be awarded the Business of the Year and the Friends of the Library will receive the Volunteer Organization of the Year.
ROGER TIDWELL
Tidwell has served as the First Baptist Church pastor for 30 years as he arrived in the spring of 1992.
Before arriving in Howe, Tidwell was pastoring a little church in Elroy, Texas near the Austin area. Looking to grow as his family, he contacted the Director of Missions in Austin who had previously pastored in Whitewright, Sherman, and Denison. He informed Tidwell that First Baptist Church in Howe was looking for a pastor and even wrote a letter of recommendation for him. After the going through the interview process and being heard by the committee, the rest is history.
Tidwell’s voice has been heard by thousands across North Texas as he has served as “The Voice of Bulldog Stadium” on Friday nights in the fall. He began working with Leon Thornhill in 1997 in that role.
Tidwell, known for his quick wit and self-depreciating humor, has used that ability to disarm some would-be disgruntled church members. It is quite difficult to be upset at someone who might joke about themselves in the very subject someone might take issue with. Tidwell has perfected that art and has taken which on average is a two year pastorship into a 30-year legacy at one church. Meanwhile, helping make an everlasting difference in the lives of so many in the community.
DALE AND LANA RIDEOUT
Dale Rideout brought his family to Howe in 1972 in order for him to accept the pastorship at The Howe Church of Christ. After that position, he found a career at Anderson-Clayton in Sherman, Texas. But he and his family always remained a staple in Howe.
Originally of Michigan and a student at Michigan Christian University, then a move to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University, he met the love of his life—Lana. Together they formed a bond that would eventually earmark the history of Howe, Texas spanning into five decades.
Lana Rideout took a position as editor with the Howe Enterprise newspaper in 1977. After a pending sale of the Enterprise from Jim Echols to Jim Denney, owner of the Van Alstyne Leader, Dale purchased the publication for his wife as a team of publisher and editor. Together, they published 1,888 editions from January 5, 1978, through March 6, 2014.
Dale was a part of getting the Howe Chamber of Commerce reestablished in 1972. He was Precinct Chairman for the Republican Party for several years and also has served as Election Judge. Dale and Lana Rideout each were members of the Howe Volunteer Fire Department at one time. Dale was elected to the city council for two terms and was currently placed back on the council a few years ago. He sat on the advisory board for drawing up a 10-year plan for The City of Howe.. If you tried to appeal your taxes on your home several years ago, you probably talked to Dale at some point. In his spare time, he helped with Boy Scouts for many years. Most recently upon retirement, he dresses as Santa Claus during the holidays to meet with children all over the area.
The soft-spoken Lana Rideout is the only two-time winner of the “Norma J. Wallace Citizen of the Year.” She received it in 1987 and again in 1998 by the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce. She implanted herself knee deep into the local business community. She was instrumental with the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce volunteering many hours and even serving as chamber president. She was a crucial member of the formation of the Howe Public Library, now Howe Community Library. She served on the Friends of the Library board until her death. Lana also helped form the Howe Historical Society and helped with a restoration project of what is now Summit Gardens.
During a time in the 1980s when Howe businesses were leaving town, the Rideouts took the survivor’s mentality. They not only survived “Yankee jokes” recessions, the downfall of print media, and the uprising of on-line media.
Together, they made quite the team in Howe, Texas and literally captured the spirit of the town.
SHAWN “MOONDOG” FOUNTAIN
Perhaps no other Bulldog fan has been revered so mightily in Howe, Texas. Shawn “Moondog” Fountain was a 1997 graduate of Howe High School and became their most loyal fan. He has assisted on the sidelines at many football games, basketball games, or any Bulldog sporting event that needed extra help. He often led the fans in cheers and livened up the crowd by twirling towels and pumping fists. He was known to show some of his dance moves (such as the sprinkler) at a Howe pep rally or football game. Many of the coaches and school staff remained dear friends to Shawn and treated him as a member of their families.
As one of the most notable residents of Howe, Shawn could be seen riding his orange scooter around town. He attended regular meetings at the Howe Fire Department and was proud to be treated as an honorary fireman. He enjoyed the camaraderie shared by the Howe firefighters and valued their friendship. He worked at Palio’s Pizza Café where he greeted friends with a warm welcome.
The Howe Hall of Honor was established in 2015 by the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce. The members include:
2015
Jabez Haning, W.P. Thompson, A.M. Ferguson, Mame Roberts, Charles R. Thompson, Arthur Boyle, Tony Brinkley, L.B. Kirby, Norma Wallace, Ray Bledsoe, Carrie Waller, Elmer Schenk.
2016
Norman Dickey, Jimmy Bearden, Steve Simmons.
2017
Donal Gilstrap, Jean Norman, J.J. Chisum, Bob Walker.
2018
Bob Williams, Harold Taylor, Norman Bennett, Tommy Skipworth.
2019
Bobby Sollis, Donna Jarma, Lowell Thompson, Marion Allison.
2020
Billy Joe Wheeler, Dug Wortham, Sam Haigis, Pat Stewart.
2021
Leon Thornhill
2022
Roger Tidwell, Dale Rideout, Lana Rideout, and Shawn Fountain.