Frank Alden “Frankie” Howard (December 1 1938 – July 26 2020) was an American law‑enforcement officer and politician from Louisiana. He served as sheriff of Vernon Parish from 1976 to 2000 and as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 24th district from 2008 until term‑limited in 2020.
Early life and education
Howard was born in Hornbeck, Louisiana, the son of Robert Howard and Essie Brown. He graduated from Hornbeck High School and served in the United States Army’s 49th Armored Division from 1961 to 1963. He later attended continuing‑education programs at the National Sheriffs’ Institute (University of California, Los Angeles) and Louisiana State University.
Law‑enforcement career
Howard began his public service as town marshal of Hornbeck, filling a vacancy after his father’s death, and was appointed deputy sheriff of Vernon Parish in 1961, a post he held for fifteen years. In 1975 he resigned to run for sheriff; after winning the jungle primary and running unopposed in the general election, he took office on July 1 1976. He was reelected multiple times, serving four terms before declining to seek reelection in 1999. During his tenure, Howard held leadership positions in the Louisiana Sheriff Association, including second vice president (1996‑1997), first vice president (1998‑1999), and president (1999‑2000). His administration faced criticism over budget deficits and a lawsuit concerning jail conditions, which was dismissed.
Political career
Originally a Democrat, Howard switched to the Republican Party in 2007. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in November 2007, representing District 24, and was reelected in 2011 and 2015. While in the legislature, he served on the Transportation, Agriculture, and Criminal Justice committees. Notable votes included opposition to a legislative salary increase (2008), opposition to allowing concealed‑carry weapons on college campuses (2015), and support for statewide school vouchers and expanded charter schools (2012). He left office on January 13 2020 after reaching the term‑limit.
Personal life
Howard married Betty Pauline Cavanaugh in 1961; the couple had three children. After her death in 2015, he married Macel McInnis Anderson in 2017. He died of complications from COVID‑19 in Alexandria, Louisiana, on July 26 2020 at age 81. Governor John Bel Edwards issued a tribute and ordered state flags to be lowered in his honor.