Louis Peyton Howell was educated in the public schools of Orangeburg and Columbia, South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina and received both his bachelor’s degree and bachelor of laws degree. During this period he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and after his compulsory period of service, he was a reserve officer, retiring as a captain.
Perhaps the outstanding characteristic that enabled Louis Howell to achieve so much for his state and his community and to serve the Bar so well was his versatility. Like all young lawyers of his time, he began his career with a fine law firm checking real estate titles. From the beginning, he embraced the field of trial law and was a founding member of the Ward & Howell Law Firm practicing as a defense attorney almost exclusively, followed by service as corporate counsel. He then became associated with a plaintiff’s law firm for a short period of time. He closed his career as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of TW Services, Inc., the largest nationwide corporation with headquarters located in South Carolina.
His accomplishments are legendary. Most memorable of all, when the South Carolina Bar Association and South Carolina Bar were combined, they chose as their first president the one person that both associations trusted for competency, fairness, and leadership, Louis Howell. He served as interim Solicitor of Spartanburg County and was appointed by the Supreme Court as a Special Circuit Court Judge in 1976. As Senior Vice President and General Counsel of TW Services, Inc., he helped lead this company to expand nationwide, having responsibility for financial transactions, SEC regulations, environmental matters, and extensive involvement with financial and budget planning. After retiring on two occasions, he was called back by TW Services, in connection with a hostile takeover of the parent company.
His interest in sports activities was legendary, and his abilities as a golfer made him a formidable foe. He served as President of the Country Club of Spartanburg and as Secretary of the Board of the Bobby Chapman, Jr. Invitation, which awards scholarships to high school golfers. Combined with this dedication to golf was a life-long loyalty to the University of South Carolina athletic program which he followed with passionate disregard for those persons so unfortunate as to have graduated from Clemson.
Throughout his career, Louis was always accompanied in his efforts by his lovely wife, Gwen T. Howell, who survives him, together with one son, L. Peyton Howell, Jr. of Spartanburg, a daughter Lynn Howell Hensel of Columbia, a daughter, Sully Howell Beckham of Atlanta, and eight grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father, outstanding lawyer, and a leader of whom our State can be proud.