Dr. Hulen Riley Howe

Hulen Riley Howe, Sr., 84, of Meeker, passed on Friday, March 1, 2013 in Shawnee at Colonial Estates Nursing Home. Hulen was born November 18, 1928 in Hollis, Oklahoma to Gerald and Lurene (Kirkley) Howe. Hulen moved to the Meeker area from Shawnee at the young and tender age of six. A year prior to this move, the Howe family moved to California where Hulen's father was employed by Gene Autry, caring for livestock, mainly horses. After that year the Howes returned to Oklahoma making Meeker their home. During his youth, Hulen would work in the summer months with his younger brother Gerald, Jr. helping his father haul and sell fresh fruit. He attended Meeker Public Schools and graduated from Meeker High School in 1949. While at Meeker High School, he played basketball and even drove Meeker school bus routes, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Maxine Frazier. After high school, Hulen worked pipelines in Kentucky, was a dozer operator, and became a Mason in the Meeker Masonic Lodge. Then in 1952 at the age of 24, Hulen enrolled at Central State University, now The University of Central Oklahoma, in Edmond and graduated in 1956. He then accepted his first teaching/coaching position in Burden, Kansas. In 1959, Hulen became the first football coach at Western Height High School in Oklahoma City. While teaching and coaching at Western Heights, Hulen in 1966 completed his Master's Degree in Education and accepted a position in South Haven, Kansas as the Superintendent of Schools. After this position, the Howe family moved to Howard, Kansas where Hulen was hired School Superintendent from1970 through 1978. While in Howard, Hulen consolidated three school districts, became a doctor of education in 1976, proposed bond issues that passed and built a county high school in Elk County, Kansas. Hulen, in 1978, was asked to return to his alma mater high school in Meeker, Oklahoma to fill the school superintendent position. He accepted and remained in Meeker as superintendent until his retirement in May, 1990. Hulen and Maxine travelled and truly enjoyed retirement for many years. Hulen was baptized in the Baptist church and attended Meeker First United Methodist Church. He also loved to play golf, hunt, loved fishing of all kinds, boating, and was an avid OU and OSU fan. Hulen is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Maxine Howe; a son and daughter-in-law, Mark Frazier Howe and Becky Howe of Meeker; a brother, Charles Howe of San Jacinto, California; sister-in-law, Jimay Sandusky Howe of El Reno; one granddaughter, Candice Leigh Howe Hart of Richmond, Virginia; grandson Brett Anthony Conrad Howe; and daughter-in-law Renee' Howe Bartos of Prague; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Hulen was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Dr. Hulen Riley Howe, Jr. in 1996; and his brother Gerald Howe, Jr. Dr. Howe will be available for viewing at the Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Meeker until Tuesday morning. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 2:00 PM at New Hope Cemetery in Meeker with Rev. Mike Melton officiating. Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.