R.I.P.: Paul Howard, Longtime W-VA Broadcaster

Paul Howard

Paul Howard died Monday at his Charleston home after a brief illness.

According to to wvmetronews.com, Howard was 93 and until only a few months ago reported daily to his desk at West Virginia Radio’s Charleston Division where he sold advertising.

Howard started his radio career in 1947 after returning from his service in the Army during World War II. Unsure of what to do, Howard heard an ad on legendary Pittsburgh radio station KDKA for a 13 week broadcasting school. He attended and earned his certificate and an acetate record to use as a resume. The work led to a position at a radio station in Flat River, Missouri. His career moved to Bellaire, Ohio across the river from Wheeling, W.Va.. He soon moved on to a station in Akron, Ohio. Howard moved to Charleston in the early 1960’s to take a job as a rock and roll dee-jay with Capital Broadcasting on WCAW Radio.

Paul spent a brief time in management, but realized his love was on the air and working in sales. He was most comfortable when he was one on one with people according to longtime co-worker Jenny Murray of Charleston radio station V-100.

“The thing Paul taught me in all my years was how to treat people–whether they were friends or clients. He was constantly on the phone and it wasn’t always about business. More often than not it was, ‘Hey, how are you doing, let’s get together and have lunch and get caught up,” Murray explained. “He did that with everybody–including some people who hadn’t worked here for years, but he still stayed in touch.”

Murray shared a cubicle next to Paul for many years and had a front row seat to many of his conversations with clients and friends a like. She laughed at one where Howard was having difficulty getting a client to pay.

“He chatted on the phone with the most pleasant and polite conversation you could ever hear with this guy who owed money for his advertising,” said Murray. “Eventually, Paul told them good-bye, hung up the phone, then looked at me and said, ‘…and PAY YOUR DAMN BILL!’ I still laugh about that to this day.”