Former Lamar Institute of Technology President/CEO, Lonnie L. Howard – a 1995 graduate of Houston Community College – was recently bestowed the honor of having the institute’s technology center bear his name.

The renaming of the Dr. Lonnie L. Howard Technology Center was at the direction of the Texas State University System Chancellor and Board of Regents in recognition of Howard’s contributions as president of the Beaumont, Texas institute for six years before he stepped-down in August.

Howard overcame an impoverished childhood in Eagle Lake and Columbus, Texas. He joined the U.S. Army at age 17 on a delayed enlistment program and rose to the rank of sergeant before leaving the service. But he decided to continue his studies at San Jacinto College earning an associate degree in welding before completing a general studies associate degree at HCC to become the first in his family to go to college. He then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Houston and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. He completed executive training a Penn State, Harvard and the University of Southern California.

“My A.A.S. in welding from San Jac gave me viable workforce skills and my HCC AGS degree gave me the academic confidence for university transfer,” Howard said, “Despite my many disadvantages, the wonderful faculty and staff at HCC helped to make my American Dream an actual reality.”

Howard has held many teaching and administrative posts. Before serving at LIT, he served as executive director of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies in the University of Houston System, among other roles.