Dixie Howell

{{Short description|American sports player and coach (1912–1971)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Dixie Howell

| image = Dixie Howell 1949.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Howell, circa 1949

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|11|24}}

| birth_place = Hartford, Alabama, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1971|3|2|1912|11|24}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_sport1 = Football

| player_years2 = 1932–1934

| player_team2 = Alabama

| player_years3 = 1937

| player_team3 = Washington Redskins

| player_sport4 = Baseball

| player_years5 = 1933–1935

| player_team5 = Alabama

| player_years6 = 1935–1942

| player_team6 = minor leagues

| player_positions = Halfback (football)

| coach_sport1 = Football

| coach_years2 = 1935

| coach_team2 = UNAM

| coach_years3 = 1936

| coach_team3 = Loyola (LA) (backs)

| coach_years4 = 1938–1941

| coach_team4 = Arizona State

| coach_years5 = 1946

| coach_team5 = Alabama (backs)

| coach_years6 = 1947–1950

| coach_team6 = Idaho

| coach_years7 = late 1950s

| coach_team7 = Furman (assistant)

| coach_sport8 = Baseball

| coach_years9 = 1946

| coach_team9 = Alabama

| coach_years10 = 1958–1960

| coach_team10 = Furman

| overall_record = 36–35–5 (college football)
42–40–1 (college baseball)

| bowl_record = 0–1–1

| tournament_record =

| championships = NFL champion (1937)
2 Border (1939, 1940)
Liga Mayor (1935)

| awards =

Consensus All-American (1934)
SEC Player of the Year (1934)
2× First-team All-SEC (1933, 1934)

| coaching_records =

| CFBHOF_year = 1970

| CFBHOF_id = 1542

| module =

{{Infobox military person

| embed = yes

| allegiance = {{USA}}

| branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}

| rank = 15px Lieutenant Commander

| battles = World War II

| unit = Training

| serviceyears = 1942–1945

| awards =

}}

Millard Fleming "Dixie" Howell (November 24, 1912 – March 2, 1971) was an American football and baseball player and coach. He played college football as a halfback at the University of Alabama from 1932 to 1934 and with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in 1937. Howell served as the head football coach at Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe, now Arizona State University, from 1938 to 1941 and at the University of Idaho from 1947 to 1950, compiling a career coaching record of 36–35–5 in college football. He also coached at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1935. Howell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1970. He also played professional baseball in eight minor league seasons following college.

Playing career

=Football=

Born in Hartford, Alabama, Howell graduated from Geneva County High School in Hartford and played college football as an undersized ({{convert|160|lb|0|abbr=on}}) quadruple-threat back at Alabama from 1932 to 1934.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RSwdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SKUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5295,7298014 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |last=Browning |first=Al |title=Howell wasn't just whistling 'Dixie' |date=April 26, 1981 |page=B1}} As a senior, the Crimson Tide ran the Notre Dame Box offense, and he was a consensus All-American in 1934, as well as one of the nation's top punters. The 1934 Alabama team had two future legends as ends: Don Hutson and Bear Bryant. The Crimson Tide posted a 10–0 record, and defeated previously unbeaten Stanford 29-13 in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, 1935. Howell threw two touchdown passes to Hutson and ran for two more; he is a member of the all-time Rose Bowl team.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WhYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4577,3539401 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |title=New A-Day award will honor Howell |date=April 20, 1971 |page=6}}

In 1937, Howell briefly played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, who had just relocated from Boston. The Redskins had lost the NFL championship game in 1936 to Green Bay, but returned to the title game in 1937 and defeated the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field. Howell was a reserve quarterback for the Redskins, behind starter Sammy Baugh. He became a collegiate head coach in 1938 and ended his football playing career.

=Baseball=

Howell also played baseball for the Crimson Tide and originally indicated he would finish out the college baseball season in 1935 and turn pro that June.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oItOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h0ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3723,5433638 |newspaper=Ludington Daily News |location=Michigan |title=Dixie Howell may join Detroit Tigers |agency=Associated Press |date=January 28, 1935 |page=2}} Plans changed and he signed a professional baseball contract with the Detroit Tigers

in early March{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WFUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3bUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4444,568055 |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |location=Florida |title=Howell will play with Detroit Tigers |agency=Associated Press |date=March 6, 1935 |page=7 |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117041144/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WFUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3bUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4444,568055 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pbJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HiIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6443,1616664 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Howell is slated to join Tigers' baseball farm |agency=Associated Press |date=March 15, 1935 |page=2-sports |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117035703/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pbJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HiIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6443,1616664 |url-status=dead }} and played minor league baseball through 1942.

A month after signing, he was hospitalized after being struck in the head by a foul line drive; it occurred during batting practice before an April exhibition game in Virginia, off the bat of Johnny Mize.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p0UsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rcoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1267,3536965 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |title=Dixie Howell remains in serious shape in hospital |agency=Associated Press |date=April 12, 1935 |page=3}} In 1936 he played with Portland in the Pacific Coast League, then was moved to Toledo in the American Association. His career tailed off and he spent the rest of his baseball career in lower leagues.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nesxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ROMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5002%2C2886918 |newspaper=Berkeley Daily Gazette |location=California |agency=United Press |title=Dixie Howell signs with Oklahoma City |date=February 5, 1940 |page=10 }} After service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he did not return as a player and became the head coach at Alabama in January 1946 and resigned in March 1947 to become head football coach at Idaho.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-xMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6682%2C3977530 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Dixie Howell given head coaching job at University of Idaho |date=February 27, 1947 |page=12}}

Coaching career

While pursuing his baseball career, Howell coached football in his autumn off-seasons; leading the National Autonomous University of Mexico to a Liga Mayor national championship in 1935 and serving as an assistant at Loyola University New Orleans in 1936.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com.mx/noticias/nota?id=503146|title=Hacen historia|publisher=ESPN Mexico|agency=Notimex|date=November 18, 2006|access-date=March 10, 2025|language=es}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TNs-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=zUwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6466%2C1075982 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |title=Howell named Alabama coach |date=January 27, 1946 |page=7}}

Following a season in the NFL in 1937, he was hired as head coach at the Arizona State Teachers College in Tempe,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0TYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LVADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6187%2C1168845 |newspaper=Evening Courier |location=Prescott, Arizona |agency=Associated Press |title=Oliver named head coach at Oregon; Howell gets Tempe job |date=January 27, 1938 |page=5 }} and stayed for four seasons (1938–1941) with the Bulldogs,{{cite news |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe-contributor/2016/05/06/tempe-history-how-big-college-football-star-came-coach-arizona-state/83633722/ |newspaper=Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix |last=Mark |first=Jay |title=Tempe history: How a big college football star came to coach at Arizona State |date=May 6, 2016 |access-date=June 9, 2016}} with two conference titles and two appearances in the Sun Bowl.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r4FSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kEcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2361%2C1318634 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=Associated Press |title='Dixie' Howell quits at Tempe |date=March 14, 1942 |page=2, sports }} He was a finalist for the open job at Idaho in 1941 to succeed Ted Bank,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lbFaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_E8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355%2C3231765 |newspaper=Prescott Evening Courier |location=(Arizona) |agency=Associated Press |title=Dixie Howell views Idaho |date=March 14, 1941 |page=5}} which went to Francis Schmidt, then resigned his position at Tempe in the spring of 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy as a physical training instructor for naval aviators.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2xwvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4tsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3980,4104685&dq=dixie+howell&hl=en |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |location=Canada |title=Charles Gelbart, Dixie Howell, John Kelly are P.T. instructors now |agency=Associated Press |date=August 25, 1942 |page=8}} He served until his discharge as a lieutenant commander in November 1945, then returned to Tuscaloosa in January 1946 as an assistant football coach (backs) and head baseball coach for the Crimson Tide.

Howell was hired as head football coach at Idaho of the Pacific Coast Conference in February 1947,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BPo-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=YE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6405%2C2490185 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Howell signed by Idaho U. |date=February 27, 1947 |page=9}} and guided the usually-struggling Vandals to a promising 4–4 record in his first season in Moscow, Idaho's best since 1938.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1948/288 |work=Gem of the Mountains |agency=University of Idaho yearbook |title=Football (fall 1947)|date=1948|pages=282–294}} The Vandals beat Stanford on the road, a team that had defeated them 45–0 the previous year (but went winless in 1947). It was Idaho's second-ever football victory over a PCC team from California, following a victory over first-year UCLA in 1928. The Vandals also knocked off an undefeated Utah in the season finale in Boise. The Vandals drew a Palouse and state record crowd to Neale Stadium for their annual rivalry game with Washington State in October, albeit a close 7–0 loss to the Cougars.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fBg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=X-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6737%2C1671625 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Cougars claw Idaho Vandals 7-0 |date=October 5, 1947 |page=1-sports}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qPUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3526%2C1458396 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Grid fans pack Moscow stadium |date=October 4, 1947 |page=1}} These promising factors earned Howell a two-year contract extension through 1950.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tc5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4zIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1490,4705710 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Dixie Howell signs new two-year contract as Idaho football coach |date=April 28, 1948 |page=8}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zPlXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ovUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5869,5718140 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Dixie Howell signs new Idaho contract |date=April 27, 1948 |page=21}} The progress did not continue, as the Vandals opened the 1948 season with four losses and went {{nowrap|3–6}} overall and {{nowrap|1–5}} in conference, defeating only Montana for the Little Brown Stein. Idaho played Washington State close at Rogers Field in Pullman and gave Oregon a scare in Moscow.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s5spAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886,3999899 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Action in pictures of Idaho's valiant losing battle against Oregon |date=October 10, 1948 |page=3-sports}} The Webfoots, with Norm Van Brocklin and John McKay, went 7–0 in conference and were co-champions with California.

Howell's relationship with Idaho fans and the administration was strained following the 1949 season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LbheAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1444,3143121 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Report says Howell under fire |agency=Associated Press |date=April 8, 1950 |page=8}} The Vandals went {{nowrap|3–5}} and {{nowrap|1–4}} in conference that season, defeating only departing Montana again. Their two non-conference wins were against overmatched opponents Willamette and Portland, and the Vandals were severely outscored {{nowrap|230–45}} in their five losses, capped by a {{nowrap|63–0}} loss at Stanford to end the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/yearly_results.php?year=1945 |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |title=Idaho - 1945-49 |agency=yearly results |access-date=October 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008102323/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/yearly_results.php?year=1945 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 }} Howell felt compelled to publicly deny rumors in April that he would leave before the 1950 season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TOVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VPYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4226,822018 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Howell denies he will leave Idaho grid job |date=April 18, 1950 |page=17}}

The Vandals posted a 3–5–1 record in 1950 and 1–1–1 in conference, and Howell's contract was not renewed in March 1951.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bOZXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M_YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7001,5340391 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Dixie Howell resigns as Idaho football coach |date=March 27, 1951 |page=21}} Assistant coach Babe Curfman succeeded him, after leading the team through its spring drills on an interim basis.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eS5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2OUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4857,1567426 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho selects Curfman as coach |date=April 17, 1951 |page=14}}

While Howell was the head coach, the Idaho Vandals wore red jerseys.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1949/230 |work=Gem of the Mountains |agency=University of Idaho yearbook |title=On the field: varsity and intramurals (color photo): Oregon at Idaho, October 9, 1948 |date=1949 |pages=218}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ki1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6556%2C4906800

|title=Reds wallop Whites in finale of Idaho grid spring training, 41 to 14 |date=May 13, 1948 |page=12}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s_FXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7101%2C4965091 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Cougars, Idaho tapering off on football tuneups |date=September 13, 1948 |page=15 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Hy5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ruUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1818%2C2885778 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Reds win Idaho practice game |date=May 7, 1950 |page=2, sports }}

In media

Howell had an uncredited role in the 1936 movie, The Adventures of Frank Merriwell as a football player.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1292755/ Millard 'Dixie' Howell] In the book To Kill a Mockingbird chapter 11, Scout, in an attempt to cheer up her brother, tells him he resembles Dixie Howell.

Howell is also mentioned in Randy Newman's song "My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell" from the album Good Old Boys.

After coaching

Howell got out of coaching and later worked in the Los Angeles area in sales and public relations. He had two operations for intestinal cancer in 1969{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8E5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZyMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,127640 |newspaper=Press-Courier |location=Oxnard, California |title=Howell tumor is malignant |agency=Associated Press |date=October 1, 1969 |page=21}} and 1971 and died at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in March 1971 at age 58.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U3gsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HswEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7215,282383 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |location=South Carolina |title=Former Tide star dies at 58 |agency=Associated Press |date=March 3, 1971 |page=15}} and was buried in Alabama in his hometown of Hartford.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZRYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G5wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933%2C447239 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News|location=Alabama |last=Marshall |first=Phillip |title='Dixie' Howell to be buried in Hartford |date=March 3, 1971 |page=9}} His wife, former actress Peggy Watters Howell (1914–2006),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ealQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-SEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1266%2C8249547 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Dixie Howell to wed film actress Nov. 24 |date=November 15, 1935 |page=7, part 2 |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117035636/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ealQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-SEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1266%2C8249547 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BB1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2971%2C2783945 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Peggy Waters marries Dixie football star |date=November 25, 1935 |page=5}} outlived him by 35 years and is buried beside him.

Weeks after his death, Alabama created an award in his name, given to the outstanding player of the annual spring game.

Head coaching record

=Football=

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Arizona State Bulldogs

| conf = Border Conference

| startyear = 1938

| endyear = 1941

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1938

| name = Arizona State

| overall = 3–6

| conference = 0–5

| confstanding = 7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1939

| name = Arizona State

| overall = 8–2–1

| conference = 5–1

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Sun

| bowloutcome = T

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1940

| name = Arizona State

| overall = 7–2–2

| conference = 4–1–1

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Sun

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1941

| name = Arizona State

| overall = 5–5–1

| conference = 2–4–1

| confstanding = 7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Arizona State

| overall = 23–15–4

| confrecord = 11–11–2

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Idaho Vandals

| conf = Pacific Coast Conference

| startyear = 1947

| endyear = 1950

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1947

| name = Idaho

| overall = 4–4

| conference = 1–4

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1948

| name = Idaho

| overall = 3–6

| conference = 1–5

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1949

| name = Idaho

| overall = 3–5

| conference = 1–4

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1950

| name = Idaho

| overall = 3–5–1

| conference = 1–1–1

| confstanding = T–4th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Idaho

| overall = 13–20–1

| confrecord = 4–14–1

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 36–35–5

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

References

External links

{{cfbhof|id=1542|name=Dixie Howell}}
{{Footballstats |nfl=2516906 |cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=H/HoweDi20 |dbf=HOWELDIX01 |rotoworld=}}
{{baseballstats|brm=howell002mil}}
{{IMDb name|id=1292755|name=Dixie Howell}}
{{Find a Grave|19281169}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Dixie Howell—championships, awards, and honors

| list1 =

}}

Category:1912 births

Category:1971 deaths

Category:American football halfbacks

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coaches

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players

Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football coaches