Rick Howard:
CLASS OF 1974
Jefferson Moore High SchoolClass of 1974
Waco, TX
Van Buren Middle SchoolClass of 1971
Albuquerque, NM
Whiteman Air Force Base Elementary SchoolClass of 1969
Whiteman afb, MO
Sandia Base Elementary SchoolClass of 1969
Kirtland afb, NM
Oakhurst Elementary SchoolClass of 1966
Ft. worth, TX
Rick's Story
Life: Being a Air Force Brat, we got transferred, a lot. With my Moms family living near Oakhurst, CR was a stop gap school for me. Made many friends over the years but enjoyed my short time at CR. Finished HS in Waco, where my Dad retired from AF. Played baseball at UNC in Chapel Hill.
GRADUATED UNIV. NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL 1979. AFTER BOUNCING AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, I PLAYED PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL WITH MONTREAL EXPOS ORGANIZATION,
79-81.INCLUDING 3 YRS IN THE MEXICAN LEAGUE LIVING AND PLAYING IN AUGUASCALIENTES. ST.LOUIS CARDINALS ORGANIZATION 1981-82.LATER WORKED FOR NBC AFFILIATE TV AS A SPORTS ANALYST FOR 3YRS. WORKED AT AMERICAN HONDA CORP.PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. GOT MARRIED, GOT DIVORCED, STAYED SINGLE FOR 7 GREAT YEARS,TIRED OF THE CORPORATE LIFE AND THE TOLL IT TOOK ON FAMILY LIFE, MOVED BACK INTO THE AREA WHICH I HAD ANY TALENT FOR AND BECAME MEDIA DIRECTOR FOR PGA SR. TOUR BANK ONE CLASSIC IN DALLAS, AND THE CELEBRITY PLAYERS TOUR EVENT HEADLINED BY EMMITT SMITH AND TROY AIKMAN,WORKING WITH ESPN AS GOLF ANALYST WITH FRANK BEARD AND ROBERT WRENN. FULLTIME DIRECTOR OF GOLF FOR THE MODEL GOLF ACADEMY IN DALLAS FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS. SOME OF MY STUDENTS INCLUDE ACTORS JACK WAGNER,ADAM BALDWIN,NBA GREAT CHARLES BARKELY,BASEBALL PLAYERS RICK RHODEN,SCOTT SANDERSON,MICKEY TETTLETON,AND FORMER NFL KICKER AL DEL GRECO. I ALSO WORK WITH PGA TOUR PLAYER NEAL LANCASTER, STEVE ELKINGTON,BILLY ANDRADE,EUROPEAN TOUR MEMBER IAN WOOSNAM AND SEVERAL NATIONWIDE TOUR PLAYERS. SELECTED AS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR IN 2003 BY THE UNITED STATES GOLF TEACHERS FEDERATION. CURRENTLY DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION AT OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB IN DALLAS. MARRIED 3 CHILDREN- TWINS BRIAN AND WHITNEY NEWLY GRADUATED, BRIAN WILL BE ON SCHOLARSHIP AT UNIV. INDIANA PLAYING SOCCER AND GOLF. WHITNEY WILL BE ATTENDING FRANKLIN COLLEGE. CLAIRE IS MY YOUNGEST AT 6 YRS OLD, AND STARTING THE FIRST GRADE THIS SEPT. (MAN, WHAT WAS I THINKIN! 12 YRS APART!)
School
GRADUATED THE UPPER 1/3 OF MY CLASS. NAMED CLASS FAVORITE JR. AND
SR. YR. ALL-DISTRICT IN BASEBALL 72-74. ALLSTATE
74. FRENCH CLUB (MAN DID I NEED
THAT IN COLLEGE)! FAVORITE TEACHERS
WERE COACH VERNON HICKS. AND COACH
GIL MONTEMAYOR. BIGGEST REGRET WAS
MOST OF MY FRIENDS WERE AT OTHER
WACO HIGH SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF DESEGRATION, AND BUSING. THE REASON I'VE NEVER GONE TO REUNIONS. I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE WAS A FEW NEAT PEOPLE, SOME I WASN'T SO NICE TO. A FEW GIRLFRIENDS THAT I TREATED NOT SO GENTLEMANLY, AS THE SAYING GOES," I WISH I KNEW THEN, WHAT I KNOW NOW". SO LET THIS SERVE AS AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY TO THOSE WHO I MAY HAVE OFFENDED, OR WAS INSENSIT...Expand for more
IVE TO. CALL IT THE BMOC SYNDROME,OR I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I WAS JUST A JERK, EITHER WAY YOU WOULD BE RIGHT.
IT WOULD APPEAR WACO STILL HASN'T GOTTEN IT RIGHT, SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SEPERATED, ALUMNI IM SURE AREN'T AWARE OF WHERE THEY STAND EITHER. THEY HAVE CHANGED MORE THAN THE MID EAST PEACE PROCESS. I MEAN RICHFIELD HAD STUDENTS COMING FOR A 3 DAYS A WEEK, AND JEFFERSON MOORE STUDENTS WERE GOING TO RICHFIELD, SO WHERE DO THE ALUMNI GO? I GIVE UP. YOU CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A SCORECARD. COLLEGE WAS MORE FUN ANYWAY.
College
After transferring from Ranger Jr.
College, I spent my first summer at
Duke University, playing the ACC
summer league baseball program, and
taking a couple of classes. However
Coach Enos Slaughter retiring, I decided to go to the Univ. of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, and spent the next 4 yrs there. Going to the
College World Series in 1979. Walked on the Golf Team my Freshman Yr. Became a Social Pledge, just so I could go to all the Frat Parties. Man was college a big change from Texas. Women were sweet, and I was a sucker for that sweet southern accent. I go back every chance I get. I was fortunate enough to be mentored by a former US AMATUER winner, Harvie Ward, he too was former UNC Alumni, and became a great freind. We lost Harvey in 2004. I miss him today.
Workplace
Because of Harvie, and his passion for the game of Golf, he encouraged me to do what I loved, and that was to teach Golf, and give back to the game, So
I Have been very blessed to do what I love, and have a wonderful wife to support me. Being a Golf Professional, I do extensive travel doing Golf Schools, across the U.S. and
abroad. I have 3 assistants, and enjoy going to my "office"
every day at the Golf Course. I enjoy working with my
both my Jr. Players, of which 5 are on their way to Major
Colleges playing on Golf Scholarships. And several celebrities, including: Al Del Greco former NFL player,
Rick Rhoden, former Major league Pitcher, and all time leading money winner on the Celebrity Players Tour. Actor
Adam Baldwin, Tennis great Ivan Lendl, Steve Gatlin-(Gatlin Brothers), and European player Ian Woosnam. In addition, Im fortunate to be able
write travel articles for American Golf Pro magazine. In
Jan.2003 named Golf Professional of the year, by the UNITED
STATES GOLF TEACHERS FEDERATION. In 2006 became a finalist for the Golf Channel reality series "Big Break IV", and the "Home and Garden Networks "Wandering Golfer" program. Recently became Golf Host for New Cruise Ship Line, Classic Golf Cruises, mostly in Europe,Spain,Italy, and Greece. View the Cruises at Classic Cruises.com
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Yearbooks
Reunions
Photos
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