Roll Call Tribute

James Melton Howell
October 12, 1933 – October 15, 2021

James Melton Howell, age 88, of New Bern, North Carolina passed away on Friday, October 15, 2021. James was born October 12, 1933 in Texas.

Chief Economist and "Business World" Legend, Jim Howell, age 88 Passed away peacefully on October 15, 2021 at Carolina East Medical Center. Jim was born on October 12, 1933 to Eugene Jody and Ruth (Melton) Howell in Bryan, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1956 and earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Tulane University in 1963. He was awarded with an honorary Doctorate from Rivier College in Nashua, NH in 1982. After graduate school, Jim's career as an economist started at the Federal Reserve Board and later the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC. He also served as an economic advisor for the Agency for International Development in Santiago, Chile. In 1970, he began his role of chief economist for Bank of Boston, which spanned three decades. On September 24, 1983, Jim married the love of his life, Linda Daignault Howell. Between the bank and their own consulting practice, Council for Northeast Economic Action, they worked together for nearly four decades. Outside of their intertwined careers, Jim and Linda enjoyed extensive worldwide travels, gourmet cooking, plus avid reading and gardening. They were always in the company of a beloved cocker spaniel. Jim served as a Trustee for Boston University for more than 30 years and hosted a television show called "Business World with Jim Howell" for WABU-68. He authored two books, "The Massachusetts Miracle" and "Urban Fiscal Stress: Comparative Analysis of 66 United States Cities." In 1984, Jim received the Distinguished Friend of Education award by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In 2004, Jim and Linda traded life in Boston with weekends in New Hampshire for New Bern, NC. Together, they restored the 1760 Hawks House in New Bern's Historic District, which included an English garden. Jim had utmost respect and adoration for Linda. They celebrated 35 years of marriage before Linda passed away in 2018. Jim is survived by his son, James A. Howell and his wife, Amy Brigham, who recently settled in New Bern.

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